Black Sea home to at least 253,000 dolphins - scientists

"For the first time in the history of science, the number and distribution of dolphins in the Black and Mediterranean Seas have been studied simultaneously. For two years, one hundred scientists, ten aircraft and six ships surveyed the Black Sea-Mediterranean area. Scientists have explored 60% of the Black Sea and 77% of the Mediterranean Sea," the report reads.

Researchers estimate that more than 600,000 dolphins live in the Mediterranean Sea and at least 253,000 in the Black Sea.

In the Black Sea, scientists found 119,000 short-beaked common dolphins, 94,000 harbour porpoises, and 42,000 bottlenose dolphins.

"The results of the research allow us to draw a preliminary, very comforting conclusion that the state of Black Sea cetacean populations has not deteriorated over the past 20 years," the statement reads.

op