Rights defenders report death of pelicans in Makhachkala Bay

The pelicans, who settled there because of abnormal frosts, are dying in Makhachkala Bay. The staff of the Dagestani Ministry of Natural Resources has stopped feeding the birds, the Dagestani Regional Branch of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" asserts. The ministry denies this information.

Hundreds of birds are under threat of death because of abnormal frosts in the Dagestani water area of the Caspian Sea. Elena Denisenko, an employee of the Dagestani Branch of the HRC "Memorial", said that the greatest concern is about pelicans, a species from the Red Book of Russia. About 500 pelicans arrived in an unfrozen section of the seashore shore in Makhachkala.

Elena Denisenko said that in the last two days nine dead pelicans were found on beaches of Makhachkala; two dozen birds are in an extremely weak condition. "If we don't help them now, they will also die of hunger," said Denisenko.

According to her story, for two days the workers of the above ministry were feeding the birds; however, now they do not do it, referring to absence of fish.

She added that in total Russia has only 720 pairs of curly pelicans, that is, some 1400 birds, "and if nothing is done, half of them won't survive until spring."

In his turn, Arslan Dydymov, the head of the Information Division of the Dagestani Ministry of Natural Resources, has denied the fact that the ministry stopped feeding and monitoring pelicans. "To our knowledge, only two birds have perished – this is normal even for ordinary conditions of their habitat. Moreover, half of the birds have returned to their places of natural disposition. The ministry continues feeding the birds."

Meanwhile, fish for the birds was already bought by activists of the charity fund "Clean Heart". "We bought half a ton of fish and will feed the birds. We invite everyone to join us," said Nariman Gadjiev, the head of the RIA "Dagestan" and a deputy's assistant.