Geplaatst:13 jun 2008 15:38 - Gewijzigd: 13 jun 2008 15:38

Dolphins possibly scared ashore

LONDON - Marine experts believe there is evidence that the 26 dolphins which died near Falmouth on Monday were scared ashore.

A common reason for strandings is when dolphins chase fish, but post-mortem results showed most of them had not been feeding. A British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) spokesman said: „Very few had anything in their stomachs.”

If they had been feeding there would have been evidence of it, he said. „That adds weight to the theory that they were scared ashore. It is another unusual factor in this extremely unusual stranding,” said spokesman Tony Woodley.

Examinations had been completed on 15 dolphins and detailed test results were not expected for some weeks, he added. The dolphins were found beached around the Percuil river near Falmouth in one of the UK’s worst mass strandings.

BBC