Dolphins die on the beach

Dolphins die on the beach

Most of the dolphins were dead within days of being discovered, according to Francisco Javier Gomez, executive director of the Museum of Ocean and Whale Science, who heads marine mammal rescue operations in Baja California Sur. there may be a few that have died in less than 24 hours. Their bodies don’t show any signs of being hit with rocks.

Officials from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency worked with the Baja California Sur Marine Mammal Species Monitoring Network to track the number of dolphin carcasses on beaches and floating near shore. They reported at least 30 were found, including 27 close together on Cortez beach and three others scattered a few kilometers away.

The freshest specimens will be taken to the Laboratory of the Museum of Ocean and Whale Science, where scientists will analyze to determine the exact cause of death. The remaining bodies were buried to avoid contamination.

Short-snouted dolphins are known for being highly social, often living in large herds of up to 500. Adults are 1.7 to 2.4 m long and weigh 70 to 110 kg.

In the waters off Mexico’s Baja California Sur, pods of these dolphins are commonly seen swimming at high speeds, enjoying jumping out of the water and somersaults in the air.

One of the theories about the cause of the mass death of dolphins in the area is that they were chased by killer whales to shallow water and ran aground.

The most recent mass stranding event in Baja California Sur occurred in 2017, when about 50 short-faced dolphins were found along Pichilingue Beach, but that time, most of them were alive and were returned. in deeper water.

Doan Duong (According to EFE)