Over 100 dead dolphins were found washed ashore between the towns of Bosaso and Mareero in Somalia.
Videos shared on social media show around 140 dolphins lying on the shore. Some of them were already dead, while others were struggling to survive. The incident shocked residents and officials from the Puntland Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
Some were rescued, officials said. “Dolphins that have spotted off the coast of Bosaso this afternoon, especially between the port and Mareero coast, part of them have been successfully returned to the sea. The ministry of environment of Puntland has thanked the residents for giving back at least 30 dolphins to the sea.”
The exact cause of the mass stranding is still unknown. However, the Puntland Ministry of Environment and Climate Change announced Thursday that they will investigate the incident.
Experts believe that chemical waste dumping in Somali waters could be a possible reason, the Horn Observer reported.
Somalia’s waters have been a dumping ground for toxic waste from foreign countries for many years. Containers with hazardous chemicals have often been found along the country’s coastline.
Another reason, the ministry said, could be natural factors, such as changes in ocean temperatures, strong currents, or harmful algal blooms, which can affect the dolphins’ health and navigation.
Some experts also suggest that fishing activities, including the use of illegal fishing methods, might have contributed to the mass stranding by causing injuries or disorientation among the dolphins.
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