Federal practices hamper study of Gulf dolphin deaths

[n2doc]

By Leigh ColemanPosted 2011/04/16 at 6:59 pm EDT

BILOXI, Mississippi, Apr. 16, 2011 (Reuters) — A federal agency's practice of returning weakened dolphins to deeper Gulf of Mexico waters is thwarting efforts to probe dolphin deaths after last year's BP oil spill, scientists said on Saturday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, meanwhile, confirmed that two dolphins stranded in low tide on the Louisiana coastline were returned to water deep enough for them to swim away.

"These animals had no signs of external oil and were deemed healthy and robust," NOAA spokeswoman Kim Amendola said, adding that beach releases are a viable option in some circumstances.

"The animals were pushed to deeper water by our stranding network partner, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and swam off on their own," Amendola said.

Researchers said weakened and stranded dolphins should instead be rescued and tested.

more

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre73f2xw-us-dolphin-strandings/

[Angry Dragon]

1. I do not trust the government

I wonder what they are trying to hide............

[flamingdem]

2. These are highly intelligent mammels

and this is a crime against them that needs to be treated seriously