Hundreds of dead seals have washed ashore on the Russian coast of the Caspian Sea, with the cause of their death unclear, authorities say.
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About 650 to 700 carcasses were found in Makhachkala, the coastal capital of the republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus, local officials said on Saturday.
The Caspian seal has been classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2008.
Their population has declined by about 90 per cent during the past century, due in large part to pollution from oil extraction and refining.
The seals are often victims of oil spills, poaching and overfishing.
The investigation into what caused the mass die-off was underway.
Australian Associated Press
