Pelican Deaths Attributed to Higher Ocean Temperatures; Dolphin Deaths to Acoustic Shock in Peru Die-Offs
OutdoorHub Reporters 05.10.12
Although it is not yet certain, scientists believe that hotter than average ocean temperatures are responsible for the death of almost 4,500 pelicans off the northern coast of Peru.
Peru’s Vice Minister of Environment Gabriel Quijandria said that rising water temperature causes the pelican’s main food supplies, like anchovy and other species, to swim deeper or further south into the ocean where they are harder for pelicans to catch.
Quijandria ruled out that the deaths of these pelicans and of some 900 dolphins also found on shore were not due to oil exploration work. Although tests have not been completed at time of publication, contamination from heavy metals or the presence of bacterial infections were not initially detected.
The dolphins are still believed to have died because of acoustic shock waves, some speculating due to oil and gas exploration. Dolphins are sensitive to sound and the waves have been known to cause mass dolphin beaching in other parts of the world.
View a video on the subject at BBC.com.
