Scientists and researchers remain puzzled by the mass stranding of dolphins on an Eastern Cape beach last week.
Footage shot by a helicopter pilot flying from East London to Port Elizabeth last week showed dozens of common dolphins on a remote stretch of coast under the protection of Addo Elephant National Park, between Woody Cape and Sundays River mouth.
According to a statement on Monday from the African Earth Observation Network at Nelson Mandela Metrpolitan University, the local authority dealing with all whale, dolphin and seal strandings, the Port Elizabeth Museum at Bayworld, was alerted.
Following site visit on Friday by SANParks and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries it was found that 38 common dolphins, 28 adults and ten juveniles, both male and female, had probably been stranded 4-5 days previously and were all dead.
“A team of 7 people, comprising members from Bayworld, and the Cetacean Research Unit at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) set out from Port Elizabeth early on Saturday to respond to this unusual stranding event. Staff and volunteers from SANParks provided valuable support,” the statement said.
“The animals were spread out over a 2km stretch of coastline, comprising both mature males and females, as well as a number of juvenile animals and one calf. The response team was split up into three teams, each comprising an experienced marine mammal researcher and a number of interns and volunteers. Over two days, the teams collected basic information, such as sex, length and maturity status, from each individual dolphin. In addition, carcasses were dissected to obtain vital information on the cause of death of these dolphins.”
According to the statement, Dr. Stephanie Plön, of AEON, has been researching dolphin and whale health in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal waters for the past nine years and indicated that, while the animals were partially decayed, all appeared healthy and in good condition.
Dr. Greg Hofmeyr, curator of the marine mammal research collection at Bayworld, secured tissue samples as well as skeletal material for the extensive marine mammal research collection at the museum. This data will add important information on the taxonomy of this species in South African waters.
“No obvious cause for this unusual stranding event could be determined, but no evidence of foul play was found,” the statement said
This section of the coastline appears to be a unique spot on the southern and eastern coasts of South Africa for mass strandings with four other such events recorded by Bayworld since 1977.
