Over Five Dead Dolphins Washed up on Guernsey Beaches Over the Last Couple of Months; What Caused Their Deaths?

Strong Storms Blamed for Multiple Dead Dolphins Sightings

From the Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), Steve Bryne said that strong storms have hit across the channel and further afield. The natural event has taken its toll on all marine wildlife, which may have caused the multiple sightings of dead dolphins on Guernsey beaches, BBC News reported.

Nicky Harris from the Bailiwick Dolphins Project has asked residents of Guernsey to capture images of dead dolphins washed up on shore at a safe distance to help with the research. She said that it is one of the most critical things in investigating what caused the death of these animals.

Last Saturday, February 26, Bailiwick Express reported that a rare Risso's dolphin was washed ashore at Richmond end of Vazon on Friday. Ghost Seas Project founder Matt Gill said that this dolphin species is extremely rare in local waters as they do not gather in large pods, like bottlenose and common dolphins.

He noted that it is incredible to see this rare species because they tend to live offshore. However, the dolphin was already dead when rescuers came and Gill said that this might be the only way people could see a Risso's dolphin. The deceased animal was approximately 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) long, which means it is likely young since an adult could reach up to '13 feet (4 meters) long.

Risso's dolphins are larger compared to dolphins people usually see in local waters, and they are often mistaken for Pilot whales. Officials warned the public not to touch the carcass because they could be carrying diseases harmful to both humans and animals.

Examining Dolphin Carcass to Determine Cause of Death

Usually, dolphin carcasses that washed ashore were left to wash back to sea to return to the ecosystem. But in cases where this is not possible, the team from Agriculture, Countryside, and Land Management Services (ACLMS) of the States' Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure remove them.

According to Bailiwick Express' recent report, the team will examine the carcass and record its cause of death. The GSPCA also keeps records of dolphins washed ashore, either alive or stranded, but does not record dead dolphins. Since November, Mr. Gill said they have already recorded six dead dolphins, including the most recent sighting of the Risso's dolphin.

He took photos of the dolphin carcasses and noted many of the remarkable marks that tell the possible causes of death. For instance, there are net marks around the dorsal fin, while some have missing parts of their jaw, which indicates possible injury when escaping from the nets.

Mr. Gill emphasized that comprehensive data collection is important because it helps other researchers draw definitive conclusions about the apparent increase in dead dolphins washed ashore. He believes that the changing situation in Guernsey territorial waters might also contribute to this problem.

In Laos, the last known freshwater dolphin in the Mekong river just recently died in which it was seen struggling to escape from a net before it died days later. The dolphin's death signals the river's parlous state.

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