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Mass dolphin deaths in Peru Mass dolphin deaths in Peru
(about 11 hours later)
More than 400 dead dolphins were found in January on More than 400 dead dolphins were found in January on
the Pacific Ocean beaches of northern Peru where twice that number were the Pacific Ocean beaches of northern Peru where twice that number were
encountered in the whole of 2012, officials have said.encountered in the whole of 2012, officials have said.
Authorities never established the cause of the deaths in 2012. They are Authorities never established the cause of the deaths in 2012. They are
doing autopsies on the latest dolphins found in the doing autopsies on the latest dolphins found in the
Lambayeque region on the northern coast.Lambayeque region on the northern coast.
Technician Jaime de la Cruz of Peru's Imarpe marine life agency said Technician Jaime de la Cruz of Peru's Imarpe marine life agency said
about 220 dead dolphins were found in the last week of January alone, the restabout 220 dead dolphins were found in the last week of January alone, the rest
during the previous three weeks. Autopsy results were expected in two weeks. Examinations would focus on lungs, kidneys and livers. during the previous three weeks. Autopsy results were expected in two weeks. Examinations would focus on lungs, kidneys and livers.
Autopsies of some of the more than 870 dolphins found in 2012 were Autopsies of some of the more than 870 dolphins found in 2012 were
inconclusive. Speculation ranged from biotoxins in the sea to seismic inconclusive. Speculation ranged from biotoxins in the sea to seismic
testing or an unknown ailment.testing or an unknown ailment.
Yuri Hooker, director of the marine biology unit at Cayetano Heredia Yuri Hooker, director of the marine
biology unit at Cayetano Heredia
University, told the Associated Press that in other parts of the world University, told the Associated Press that in other parts of the world
dolphin deaths generally were caused by environmental contamination when they ate fish or other smaller species filled with toxins. dolphin deaths generally were caused by environmental contamination when
Hooker said others died after ingesting discarded plastic floating in the they ate fish or other smaller species filled with toxins.
Hooker said others died after ingesting discarded plastic floating in
the
sea. sea.
The marine biologist said determining the death of dolphins was complicated in Peru because government laboratories had only three or The marine biologist said determining the death of dolphins
was complicated in Peru because government laboratories had only three
or
four of the world's 100 or so chemicals that could be used for four of the world's 100 or so chemicals that could be used for
determining an animal's cause of death.determining an animal's cause of death.