Dozens of cetaceans have died in the Black Sea due to a Russian oil spill, and the death toll is expected to rise.

In mid-December, two Russian oil tankers sustained damage during a storm, resulting in an oil spill. The spill spread into the Kerch Strait—a body of water connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Scientists now believe that this incident has had a significant impact on marine life in the area, according to IFLScience.

Researchers suggest that the Russian oil spill has led to the deaths of more than three dozen cetaceans, including several individuals from an endangered subspecies. According to the Dolphin Rescue and Research Center "Delphia" in Russia, 61 dead whales have been recorded since the emergency, with 32 of these marine giants dying after December 15—scientists believe their deaths are likely linked to the oil spill.

The condition of the cetaceans indicates that their deaths likely occurred within the first 10 days following the disaster. However, scientists also believe that the number of casualties from the oil spill may increase, as whale bodies continue to wash ashore.

At the same time, the deaths of the other 29 cetaceans are not associated with the oil spill—their bodies are "very old," suggesting they likely died before the disaster. Nonetheless, experts are concerned about the high number of fatalities, attributing them to the oil spill.

Researchers note that reports of new dead dolphins are coming in almost daily, which is quite unusual for this time of year. They also warn that the number of casualties among cetaceans is likely to rise significantly in the near future.

It is believed that several individuals known as "Azov dolphins" also fell victim to the oil spill in the Kerch Strait. These cetaceans resemble dolphins but are actually a subspecies of the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena relicta) and are considered endangered. Such a loss, according to scientists, makes the incident even more alarming.

It is important to note that oil spills in the ocean can have significant and long-lasting effects on marine life. For example, even five years after the Deepwater Horizon incident in 2010, dolphins in the Barataria Bay area exhibited increased mortality rates, pregnancy complications, and other adverse health risks. Researchers continue to monitor the situation following the massive oil spill, but some forecasts suggest that it may take up to 39 years for the dolphin population to fully recover.

As for the current spill in the Kerch Strait, scientists are still unable to predict the consequences but will continue to observe and prepare for further impacts on marine life in the coming months.