Caspian Sea freezes for first time in years, leaves pelicans stranded
February 22, 2012
Southern Russia's Caspian Sea froze over recently, and hundreds of Dalmatian pelicans have been left without a food source. There are only thought to be about 1,400 of this endangered bird in Russia, and already 20 have died due to a lack of food as a result of the frozen sea, according to The Associated Press.
There is one small area of the sea in a shipyard near Makhachkala, the capital of Russian province Dagestan, where the pelicans have congregated to find food. Since there are hundreds of birds and only one small opening into the sea, authorities have been helping them out by providing plenty of small fish from the open market.
The BBC reports that locals have taken notice of their feathered visitors and offered to help out. But they were turned away from the shipyard so Dagestan's Nature Protection Ministry can ensure the pelicans get only the food they need and not eat anything unsuitable.
Those who want to know more about the pelicans' fight to survive the extremely cold weather can use international phone cards to make calls to Russia.