[ad_1]
Men recover the carcass of a melon-headed whale, known as an electra dolphin, on the beach at Grand Sable, Mauritius, on August 26, 2020.
Beekash Roopun / L’Express Maurice. AFP
Fishermen on Sunday fought to save dozens of injured dolphins washed ashore in Mauritius, where in recent days at least 40 of the animals were found dead in a lagoon near the site of an oil spill from a Japanese bulk carrier. that hit a coral reef.
Yasfeer Heenaye, a fisherman near Pointe aux Feuilles on the island’s east coast, said he had counted at least 45 dead dolphins since they were discovered Wednesday, and said there were half a dozen more dolphins in the bay fighting for their lives. .
He said he believed the animals’ vision was affected by the spilled oil, which is how they ended up on the reef where they suffered fatal injuries.
Authorities, who put the death toll at 42, ruled out that this is a possibility but said Sunday they were still investigating the cause of death.
IN PHOTOS | Photos show damage caused by massive oil spill in Mauritius
“The preliminary autopsy report has excluded that oil played a role, however we sent some samples of the dead dolphins to La Reunion to determine why the animals were unable to swim and their radar was not working”, Jasvin Sok Appadu from the Ministry fishing. he said on Sunday.
So far, veterinarians have examined only two of the dead dolphins, which showed signs of injury but no trace of oil on their bodies, according to preliminary autopsy results. Autopsy results for all bodies are expected Monday, the official said.
Thousands of protesters demonstrated peacefully in the capital Port Louis on Saturday to demand an investigation into the oil spill and the dolphin deaths. Some called for the resignation of the government.
On Sunday morning, Heenaye set out with seven other boats, making a loud noise as they hit metal bars in an attempt to drive the animals away from the coral reef into the open sea.
READ | Pollution nightmare as Japanese tanker stranded off Mauritius has split
“If they stay inside the lagoon they will die like the others … we are pushing them to leave the lagoon, so that they do not come into contact with the oil,” he said.
The full impact of the spill is still unfolding, scientists say. The Mauritius Marine Conservation Society said 15 kilometers of coastline has been affected by the spill and that it is moving towards the Blue Bay Marine Park, home to 38 types of coral and 78 species of fish.
Wildlife at risk includes the critically endangered pink pigeon, endemic to the island, seagrasses, clownfish, and mangrove forests, whose roots serve as fish nurseries.
