More than 1,700 seals have been found dead on the Caspian Sea coast in Russia’s southern Dagestan province.

“In a few days, 1,700 carcasses of Caspian seals were found on the coast of the Caspian Sea in Dagestan. And this is not the final figure! Most likely, the number of dead seals is much higher,” said Zaur Gapizov, head of the Caspian Environmental Protection Center.

“Judging by the appearance of the seals we found, they died two weeks ago and were washed ashore by a storm. Signs of violent death, the remains of fishing nets were not found,” Gapizov said.

It's still unclear what caused the animals' deaths, but they likely died of natural reasons, according to the official. (ILKHA)