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Loading...600-1200 Pelicans Die in Peru
- Jake Richardson
- May 2, 2012
- 7:02 am
- 30 comments
No one knows exactly what is causing the loss of so many sea birds and dolphins in Peru, but testing by the oil industry, a disruption in the food chain or a virus have all put been put forth as possible explanations.
Adding to the confusion is the fact different figures have been reported. One story says over 1,200 pelicans died, but another says the total is closer to 600. About 54 Peruvian Boobies also were found deceased. These birds were found in the same coastal area where many dolphins were also found lifeless in April.
Morbillivirus is being investigated as a possible cause, because it can result in the deaths of many animals. This type of virus killed many canines in Europe about 200 years ago in the form of canine distemper. Morbilliviruses have caused large die-offs of marine mammals in the past.
In the late 1980s a large loss of bottlenose dolphins on the U.S. Atlantic coast was believed to be related to a morbillivirus. In 1990 a large number of striped dolphins in the Mediterranean also were thought to have died due to infection from the same type of virus. In each of these events thousands of dolphins may have died. One confounding factor is simply that though many deceased marine mammals can be counted on beaches, there could be many more never observed, so there is not complete information.
Some people have expressed concern that the virus killing a large number of animals could mutate and infect humans, though this possibility is extremely small.
Image Credit: Jens Tobiska
Related Links
Over 600 Dolphins Found Dead in Peru
Massive Bird Die-Off in Oregon
Read more: Nature, News & Issues, Wildlife
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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30 comments
+ add your ownThank you for sharing.
so sad. I loved seeing pelicans on the coast of Peru and am so sad to hear that they are dying!
Oh no... so many! This is very sad to hear.
so much?
We must sit up and think of a solution. This should not have happened.
What a horrible loss
Radiation?
So very sad.
it is the fault of humans, there is no denying it. i dont care what any country or their paid experts say, I am not going to buy any of those lies when the truth is obvious, and i also dont believe it when they say they have no idea why its happening
wow...very sad
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