PERU REACHES NEW HIGH IN THE SLAUGHTER OF DOLPHINS
25/04/2012 Lima (Peru) On the north coast of Peru is finding dead dolphins in unprecedented numbers. Conservationists say that these deaths may be caused by seismic test results conducted by an oil company.
The bodies of some 3,000 animals, mostly short-beaked common dolphins have been washed to the beach since early February, according to a research conducted by the veterinarian Carlos Yaipen-Llanos, founder and scientific director of conservation group Orca marine life.
They are part of an unprecedented slaughter of dolphins that live in the north coast of Peru. Animals have no external signs of trauma, and investigations continue to look for possible causes of his death.
However, some experts are blaming it on the seismic tests conducted by the oil company BPZ, based in Houston (USA), in this age of the Pacific. The technology involves analyzing the echoes of explosions underwater to search for oil reserves.
Yaipen-Llanos ensures that bubbles and blood found in some of the dead dolphins. That is a sign of relief that were possibly precipitated animals in their ascent to the surface to escape the noise of the explosions.
"This is the worst case of mass mortality of dolphins in the Americas know," says Yaipen-Llanos, who explains that the sound of seismic testing can travel over 100 miles offshore and often damaged the hearing of dolphins.
Patricia Majluf, Deputy Minister of Fisheries, told the Congress of Peru BPZ executives have not been able to give clear explanations about the effect of its oil exploration on marine mammals. "The environmental impact study should have BPZ included a detailed description of the area of influence and the decibel level that generated the evidence on the impact area," he said.
BPZ has not responded to questions from GlobalPost for this story. However, the company said in a statement that the deaths of the dolphins had started before they began their seismic testing. "Unfortunately, similar deaths have been detected worldwide, including Brazil and several states of the U.S. Atlantic coast, most recently in Cape Cod, Massachusetts," the statement said.
But Sue Rocca, an American marine biologist working with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, an international leader in marine mammal conservation, agrees the suspicions expressed by Yaipen-Llanos. "These are clear indications of seismic testing," he said, adding that divers from the U.S. Navy had seizures after being exposed to this kind of experience.
"It's an extremely painful experience for the dolphins. They are very acoustic, and these are sounds huge, terrifying. For years we thought that marine mammals could not suffer 'the bends'. But unfortunately we now know that this is not true. "
However, Rocca notes that seismic testing should have been felt in other marine mammals like whales, and so far there has been no case in Peru.
Other possible causes of the deaths of dolphins would be poisoning or a tide of red algae, which can be generated by pollution.
"One way or another this has probably been caused by humans," he adds. "Marine ecosystems are sensitive sites, but do not stop mix them, and dolphins are very sensitive to these changes. They are also very mobile, but there is a limit on where to go to escape the pollution, seismic testing and other disturbances in their habitat. Not good when you have to scroll through the shipping lanes, for example. "
Deaths have also questioned the ability of the authorities of Peru to protect the marine environment. The Marine Institute of Peru, the government agency responsible for marine research and fisheries, said that only 324 dolphins have died, compared to 3,000 recorded by independent experts, as Yaipen-Llanos, and confirmed by Rocca.
As indicated in its statement BZP, dolphin deaths in Peru are just the latest reported in the world. About 250 dolphins have been washed to the beach in Cape Cod this year, compared with the annual average of 38.
In addition, since early 2010 the number of bodies found in the Gulf of Mexico has increased nearly tenfold, a trend that began even before the BP oil spill.
"It was a shit year for dolphins. What if we have reached a critical moment? Do not know yet, but it is possible, "says Rocca. GlobalPost