Dolphin Strandings on East Coast Alarm Scientists

[n2doc]

Above-average occurrences of dolphins washing ashore dead or dying along the US East Coast has marine scientists concerned.

Wednesday another dead dolphin washed up in the Ocean View area near Norfolk along the state's southeast, marking the third dead cetacean to be found in a matter of days and the fourth in the last three weeks, according to local news station WAVY.

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center initially dismissed suggestions that the dolphin deaths were connected, but now it is reevaluating its position.

"We are a little bit concerned about it," the Virginia Aquarium's Mark Swingle told WAVY. "It's definitely at a much higher level than we're used to seeing at this time of year."

According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, last year 217 dolphins were stranded on the East Coast in a four months period, making 2012 "the largest dolphin stranding season on record within the East Coast." As last year came to a close, researchers postulated that 2013 might be another year record mass strandings.

This summer's strandings in Virginia are not isolated. Since July 9, at least 21 dolphins have washed up along the shores of New Jersey and in Delaware 10 dead baby dolphins have been found since June, the Press of Atlantic City reported, adding that NOAA said last week it is investigating an increase of bottlenose dolphin deaths between New Jersey and Virginia.

more

http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/3282/20130801/dolphin-strandings-east-coast-alarm-scientists.htm

[dipsydoodle]

1. Tragic

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. We need to know where they have been before they died.

Cause they are showing up dead down here in the Gulf, have been for some time now.