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This week, 24 baby dolphins washed ashore in Alabama and Mississippi along with at least 6 adults. So far, scientists have tallied a total of 67 dead dolphins along the coast. The number of dolphin carcasses appears to be growing hourly.
The majority of dolphin carcasses are babies and stillborn calves. Typically, only one or two dead baby dolphins wash ashore during the calving period. This year, many dolphins appear to have been born prematurely or died shortly after they were born. As this is the first calving season since the BP Oil Spill, scientists have noted the BP Oil Spill as a potential cause for the alarming number of deaths. However, they are not ruling anything out. Waters have been slightly colder than normal which could be a factor. Algal blooms can also increase mortality rates, but scientists have yet to find any indication of an algal bloom.
The dolphin carcasses are taken to labs where scientists take tissue samples and perform necropsies, but the majority have been too decayed to provide much information. Typically, any findings from these tests could be reported in about 3 weeks, but specialists say it could take months to release their findings. The BP spill is still a sensitive subject, and protocol delays processes and publication.
