Unusual number of grey seal deaths reported on German Baltic coast

More than two dozen dead seals have been found dead on the Baltic Sea coast in eastern Germany, reported dpa, quoting a curator at the German Oceanographic Museum on Monday.

On Saturday, another dead grey seal was reported on the island of Rügen, said Judith Denkinger, the curator for marine mammals at the museum in the nearby city of Stralsund.

This is the 27th such find in the region since the beginning of October, she said.

She said such large numbers of dead seals is "absolutely, without a doubt" unusual.

The latest dead seal was found on the beach between Sassnitz and Mukran on the island.

The question arises as to why so many animals died at once, said Denkinger. She said that each of the deaths should be looked into.

Three had already been examined by the Oceanographic Museum. Denkinger reported that the seals showed signs of drowning.

Another 10 dead seals are to be dissected this week. All results should be available by the end of the year at the latest, she said.

It is conceivable that animals could have become entangled in traps and drowned, she added. A fish trap is said to have been close to the newly found animal.

According to earlier reports, other dead seals had also previously been found near a fish trap.

According to Denkinger, by-catch in nets is one of the leading causes of death for marine animals worldwide. However, evidence of contact with nets is difficult to detect due to the seal's fur, which makes traces less visible.