On the shores of Lake Zhaman in the Kostanay region, a large number of dead birds have been discovered. The causes of the mass die-off are yet to be established during the course of the investigation.
WHAT IS KNOWN
According to Nasha Gazeta (Our Newspaper), the lake is managed by the Kostanay Regional Society of Hunters and Fishermen. The organisation has stated that it is aware of the incident and has already sent video footage and its own findings to the Kostanay Regional Territorial Inspectorate of Forestry and Wildlife for investigation.
The society's chairman, Anatoly Kovalenko, reported that the cause of the mass bird die-off will need to be determined during the inspection.
WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT
According to Anatoly Kovalenko, one possible cause could be the entry of pesticides into the lake, which had been used to treat nearby fields.
He also suggested that containers used to store such substances may have been rinsed directly in the water body. These theories have not yet been confirmed. As the society's chairman noted, a water analysis could provide a definitive answer.
The investigation is ongoing.
CONTEXT
In June, residents of the village of Saumalkol in the North Kazakhstan region (NKR) reported a mass die-off of birds in the area around Lake Saumalkol, linking the situation to the ongoing pollution of the water body. Villagers demanded an independent environmental inspection and the identification of the sources of pollution.
