Caspian Seal in Red Book of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan was the first country red-listed the Caspian seal in 1993. This was largely due to the efforts of Dr. Tariel M. Eybatov, General Director of Museum of Natural History, the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan. Dedicated his scientific researches to Caspian seals, T.M. Eybatov is an author-compiler of articles on these endangered animals for the Red Books of Azerbaijan.
In 2013, in the second edition of the Red Book, the Caspian seal was assigned the IUCN and Azerbaijan categories and criteria EN A2abd+3bd+4abd, II.1, II.2, which together defined: this endemic, relict species was under threat of extinction (and the risk of extinction in the wild was very high); the species abundance in Azerbaijan had decreased by 50-80% over the past 10 years due to unfavourable conditions.
Download the full article on the Caspian seal (the Red Book of Azerbaijan, 2013).
In the latest third edition of the Red Book, published in May 2023, the status of the Caspian seal remains assessed as an Endangered (EN) species facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The article provides the IUCN category and criteria (according to the international assessment) – EN A2b, as well as the IUCN category and criteria (according to the national assessment) – EN A1 abd; B1b (ii). The main limiting factors are the following: anthropogenic impact, invasions, infectious diseases, reduction in food sources (Allchin, Barrett, Duck et al., 1997; Wilson, Eybatov, Amano et al., 2014). Measures to preserve the species are proposed.
Download the full article on the Caspian seal (the Red Book of Azerbaijan, 2023).
For citation:
Azərbayan Respublikasinin “Qirmizi Kitabi” Nadir və nəsli kəsilməkdə olan fauna növləri, 2-ci cild, III nəşr. “İmak” mətbəəsində çap olunmuşdur, BakI 2023, s. 280.
Red Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Rare and endangered species of fauna, V. II, third edition. İmak Print House, Baku 2023, p. 280.
In the top photo: A group of Caspian seals hauled out at a rocky islet, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan. Photo by Dr. T.M Eybatov, General Director of Museum of Natural History, the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan.