Kazakhstan plans to establish the Caspian Seal open-access database
Baku, February 24, AZERTAC
The database records will gather and compile scientific research by the world’s leading scientists, tracking device data, and monitoring analysis on this unique Caspian species.
The Central Asian Institute of Environmental Research (CAIER) will spearhead the project, drawing on its ten years of experience in addressing the worsening ecological conditions of the Caspian Sea and research aimed at preserving the Caspian seal population.
Over this decade, nine expeditions involving international scientists have explored marine biodiversity in the region. The results of these studies have uncovered an ecological crisis in the Caspian Sea, prompting the decision to include the Caspian seal in Kazakhstan’s Red Book.
“Investigating the factors behind the decline of the Caspian seal population necessitates access to scientific research, much of which is currently fragmented and not publicly available. Over the past decade, the researchers at our institute have conducted distinctive analyses and compiled a comprehensive database. We aim to establish an open big date allowing domestic and international researchers to collaborate in the Caspian seal and the broader Caspian region conservation,” Aselle Tasmagambetova, an ecologist and founder of the Central Asian Institute of Environmental Studies, said.
In early February, another research expedition by CAIER concluded in the Caspian Sea, involving scientists from the UK, Kazakhstan, and the US, along with a film crew from the BBC.
Its participants provided veterinary care to sick Caspian seals, collected water and snow cover samples, and carried out some specific analyses.
The animals are now fitted with lightweight biometric tracking sensors thanks to a collaborative effort between Khaled Salama, a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at KAUST University, along with Dr. Eckart Le Roux and Dr. Altynay Kaidarova, Chief Researcher at the Caspian Seal Research and Rehabilitation Centre at CAIER. This partnership has successfully developed monitoring devices designed specifically for the seals.
These sensors, which include three satellite modules and one LoRa module, are designed to minimize disruption to the seals’ natural behaviors. This innovative approach ensures the collection of precise data on temperature, pressure/depth, GPS location, movement speed, orientation, and conductivity, all while maintaining the integrity of the animals’ behavioral patterns.
Professor Dan Costa, a distinguished marine biologist involved in the CAIER expedition, emphasizes that the research analyses will improve our understanding of the factors contributing to the decline of the Caspian seal population.
“The Costa lab has eagerly gathered various biological samples from Caspian seals during the 2025 expedition. We anticipate the outcomes of the analysis, which will deepen our insights into blood volume, stress physiology, feeding habits, breeding energy expenditure, hematological parameters, and milk composition, among others. We are thankful for the opportunity to be part of this expedition and are eager to continue investigating the ecology and health of this remarkable species.”
All samples have been delivered for examination at the high-tech laboratory. The results will become a part of a comprehensive database on the vital functions of the Caspian seal.
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