MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Peru investigating the death of 500 sea lions found on a northern beach
Agents said the bodies were of young as well as old animals, the official Andina news agency reported. Peru is investigating the deaths of some 500 sea lions found on a beach on its northern coastline. The local governor has accused fishermen of poisoning the mammals, which usually come close to the shore looking for food.
But Peruvian environmental police are looking into other possible causes for the deaths, including disease and the accidental ingestion of plastic. The rotting corpses were found on Anconcillo beach in the Ancash region.
Agents said the bodies were of young as well as old animals, the official Andina news agency reported.
They were considered a health hazard and quickly removed from the beach, which lies some 400km north of the capital, Lima.
Earlier this month, a similar incident happened further north, in the Piura region, where the bodies of nearly 200 sea lions, dolphins, turtles and pelicans washed ashore. Officials are still investigating the causes of those deaths.
In 2012, hundreds of dolphins were found dead along a stretch of Peruvian coastline.
Environmental group Orca blamed the deaths on the noise and pressure waves caused by explosions it linked to oil exploration in the area.
But a government report by the Maritime Institute (Imarpe) ruled out oil exploration, or infection by a virus or bacteria, as triggers for the deaths of the dolphins. The report said natural causes were to blame.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules-
-
-
Read all commentsso peru, a 3rd world country par excellence is investigating the death of 500 sea lions...
Nov 24th, 2014 - 01:51 pm 0while you isleters did not do a shite with the death of + 5 million penguins.
you are a 4th world colony indeed.
“At least 100,000 penguins died from starvation during May 2002 in the Falkland Islands.”
“The same thing occurred in 1986, when over a million Rockhopper penguins starved to death in exactly the same manner.”
“The Falklands's response was to try and stop our work by false arrests, intimidation, withdrawal of work permits and death threats. The Falkland Islands Government were taken to the Supreme Court and found guilty of human rights abuse which the judge described as ”morally and constitutionally indefensible”.
Paul, thats what happens when the penguins have more teeth than the island dwellers.
Nov 24th, 2014 - 03:21 pm 0Whatever the reasons for the deaths of these fine creatures,
Nov 24th, 2014 - 08:21 pm 0they need to find it and stop it if they can.
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!