The rocky beach of El Calafín, in the state of Baja California Sur, became a graveyard for dolphins on May 25.
Elements of the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection ( Profepa ), in coordination with the Network of Attention to Stranding of Marine Mammals, went to the beach located about 40 kilometers north of the city of La Paz after receiving reports of the dead dolphins.
There they counted at least 30 specimens out of the water; None showed visible marks of blows or tears, so an attack by killer whales or other marine predators was ruled out as the cause of death, according to Francisco Javier Gómez, leader of the mammal rescue operations in the lower part of the peninsula.
“Almost three dozen corpses were counted, 27 in that area and three more a couple of kilometers from the place.”
He pointed out that most of them reached the shore lifeless or in very poor condition for more than 48 hours, although there is no report of a red tide in the waters of Baja California Sur.
“The death did not occur in the area, the theory is that the currents washed them to the area. When live animals are stranded, they are all fresh, here some of them do not even have their eyes […] The vast majority of dolphins show signs of having a few days without life, however, it is possible that a couple of them have less than 24 hours of death.”
Faced with the mystery, the authorities decided to transfer the freshest specimens to the laboratories of the Museo de La Ballena in order to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. So far, neither Profepa nor the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources ( Semarnat ) have ruled on the matter.
This is not the first time that dolphins have been found stranded on a beach in the region. In 2017, about 50 dolphins were recorded on Pichilingue beach, 60 kilometers east of El Calafín. However, on that occasion, the vast majority of organisms were able to be returned to the sea alive.
According to environmental authorities, there are various causes for the stranding of these animals, which can be natural ( due to old age, intoxication, predators, or environmental factors) or anthropic (entanglement in nets, pollution, oil spills, or capture).
The common dolphin is a gregarious mammal that can live in colonies of up to 500 specimens, measures between 1.7 to 2.4 meters, and can weigh between 70 and 110 kilos.
Subscribe here to receive our newsletters, Whatsapp emergency alerts, access exclusive content on PVDN, and enjoy this site with fewer ads for only $25 USD per year! (.06 cents per day)
Trending Stories Right Now on PVDN
- Criminals gangs burn stores and vehicles in Jalisco and Guanajuato Terror took hold of Jalisco and Guanajuato on Tuesday night. Criminals burned cars, trucks, and businesses, and also blocked several roads in these two states just after 7:00 p.m. The violence was the response to the operation to arrest a regional criminal and the clashes between crime rings and members of the Army, as explained…
- Mexico governmental agency investigates Sonora Grill for accusations of separating diners by skin color The luxury restaurant chain Sonora Grill Group is in the eye of the hurricane due to accusations that point to alleged acts of discrimination and racism against its diners. The accusations started at the restaurant chain’s location on Presidente Masaryk street in the Polanco neighborhood -one of the most exclusive in the capital-, where they…
- Allegations that Amber Heard blackmailed Elon Musk to pay Johnny Depp are creepy, even for her If the latest reports that Amber Heard had a strategic plan to blackmail Elon Musk to pay Johnny Depp the judgment against her, it’s the creepiest thing that we have seen from the actress during her very public spiral. And maybe the creepiest thing from Elon Musk, which says a lot. After starring in and…
- Woman’s body found in a suitcase in Puerto Vallarta On Saturday night, authorities located the body of a person inside a suitcase on Antonio J. Hernández street and Prolongación Zacatecas street in the Primero de Mayo neighborhood in the municipality of Puerto Vallarta. The report was made to the 911 emergency service where a suspicious package was mentioned on Antonio J. Hernández street at…
- Texas man dies at Blue Chairs Hotel in Puerto Vallarta Another unfortunate death was recorded in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta, where a 71-year-old man from Texas was found dead inside his hotel room at the Blue Chairs Hotel on Los Muertos Beach. It was announced that the man apparently died of natural causes, however, as there was no direct relative who could officially…