The number of bottlenose dolphins washing up on the east coast of the United States has Federal wildlife officials worried that some kind of infection might be spreading among north Atlantic dolphin populations.
The number of bottlenose dolphins washing up on the east coast of the United States has Federal wildlife officials worried that some kind of infection might be spreading among north Atlantic dolphin populations.
Since July, 124 dolphins have reportedly washed up on beaches along the east coast.
According to scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, this year during the month of July, seven times the usual number of dead or dying dolphins were found washed up on the beach.
One report says that some of the dolphins that were stranded over the summer had pneumonia, but investigations are still being made into the situation as the Federal wildlife officials have issued a formal alarm.
One dolphin carcass was tested and showed possible evidence of morbillivirus, which killed over 700 dolphins from New Jersey to Florida between 1987 and 1988.
The NOAA has urged citizens not to approach a dolphin if they see one washed up on the beach, and not to try to return it to the water, because the animal might be sick.
What do you think could be causing all these dolphins to wash ashore?
