Posted on 01/26/2008 11:58:30 AM PST by DogByte6RER
Killer dolphins baffle marine experts
By Nigel Blundell
Last Updated: 12:01pm GMT 25/01/2008
It's hard to visualise but the intelligent and ever-friendly dolphin can also be a determined killer.
New evidence has been compiled by marine scientists that prove the normally placid dolphin is capable of brutal attacks both on innocent fellow marine mammals and, more disturbingly, on its own kind.
Film taken of gangs of dolphins repeatedly ramming baby porpoises, tossing them in the air and pursuing them to the death has solved a long-term mystery of what causes the death of so many of these harmless mammals - but has left animal experts baffled as to the motive.
Another mystery is that the animal 'murders' have only been reported in two parts of the world - along Scotland's East Coast and in America off the beaches of Virginia, where even more alarmingly, the victims were scores of the dolphins' own young.
The first clues to solving the riddle came in 1997 when, by coincidence, marine biologists in Virginia were finding young, dead dolphins with horrific internal injuries at the same time as young porpoises were washing up on Scotland's north-east coast with identical causes of death. The body count was growing in both locations.
The two groups of biologists pooled information and, at first, it was believed the mammals had died through 'blast trauma'. In American cases, this was supposedly from exercises by the US Navy, and in Scotland from air guns used by oil rig technicians to detect undersea caverns.
This theory was dismissed after further examination of the mammals' bodies revealed the injuries - broken ribs, imploding lungs, damaged livers and massive internal bleeding - could only have come from prolonged, focused attacks.
When tell-tale teeth-marks were identified, the dolphin - the mammal classified as one of the world's most intelligent, sensitive and sociable creatures - became the official suspect.
Confirmation of the murders came by way of two shocking films shot by holidaymakers.
The first was initially believed to show a dolphin fishing for salmon - until closer examination revealed a relentless attack on a porpoise, its body spinning round with such force that its back was broken and its soft tissue shattered.
Marine experts now believe that these displays of attacks on non-rival, non-predatory, peace-loving porpoises and, more shockingly, of dolphin infanticide, may have always taken place.
It is only now, with dolphins' more human-friendly behaviour taking them closer to tourist boats and beaches, that the violence is being witnessed first hand. Until the shocking realisation, dolphin-watchers in America had believed they were watching the mammals at play with their young.
Four years ago, members of Scots charity the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit discovered a lifeless porpoise near the harbour at Whitehills, near Banff.
The team described the mammals' injuries as "perhaps the worst example of inter-specific aggression any of us had ever seen. This young female had literally had the life beaten out of her."
Inspection showed multiple lacerations and puncture wounds all over the body which could not have been caused by any other attacker than a bottle-nosed dolphin.
Two of these fatal attacks by dolphins feature in the documentary The Dolphin Murders, being shown in the channel Five series Nature Shock on Tuesday, January 29.
Watching the films, Aberdeen marina biologist Dr Ben Wilson explains yet another shocking phenomenon - that the dolphins use their incredible ultra sound abilties to home in on the vital organs of their victims that will cause most damage.
"The blows are carefully targeted," says Dr Wilson, who is a member of the Scottish Association for Marine Science. "And the attacks are sustained, sometimes up to 30 minutes.
"The film was a key piece of evidence. It crystalised our suspicions. We realised the dolphins' victim was trying to escape from being attacked with such force that any one single blow could kill it.
"It was, Oh my God!, the animals I've been studying for the last 10 years are killing these porpoises."
Theories abound on the reason behind the mammal murders. These have included territorial clashes and feuds over food resources. But food is not in short supply and the victims are not just chased away but pursued to the death.
Another belief is that dolphin attacks on their young may be down to mating instincts, because when her calf dies the female dolphin is ready for mating again. But the experts are still not positive that it is only males who do the attacking.
And, incredibly, they can only guess that the attacks by bottle-nosed dolphins on Scotland's harbour porpoises is some kind of bizarre 'target practice.'
For the one common link between the attacks here and America is that the victims are of a similar size and weight.
Perhaps the dolphins' instincts has them practising the same skills required to separate a porpoise from its school, pursue it and kill it as are needed for attacks on its own kind.
Nearly half of the harbour porpoises' bodies examined have died as a result of the dolphin attacks.
Perhaps some answers will be found as Dr Wilson - who has written several research papers on dolphins - and his team continue their Bottlenose Dolphin Project throughout the Scottish waters this winter. The field work is expected to end in the summer.
But as the experts of the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit are forced to declare: "These killings represent yet another example of the hard brutality and evolutionary pressures of the marine world."
Chimps have been running amok as well..
Always ask for "Tuna-Free Dolphin" in your favorite store.
Ruh-roh. Why is this coming out now? I suspect a VRWC hit on Greenpeace...:)
Seriously, I’ve known this about bottle-nose dolphins. They can do a lot of damage with their probiscis. They weigh around 500 pounds, have sharp teeth and strong jaws. They are wild animals.
Duh. It is exciting to see a pod of dolphins, watch them playing, breaching, etc. I suspect the violent behavior is in the minority and they would be more likely to attack other species. But, even the sweet little birdies of the world can be violent. That is nature.
The cause behind these attacks is without a doubt the usage of sonar by the US Navy. All military operations using sonar must be immediately halted.
Restoration payments must begin to GreenPeace and the California Aquatic Commision. Research shall begin to determine if any other aquatic mammals or fishes were harmed. A report shall be submitted to the UN Council on International Waterways within 180 days. Fines are authorized if this date is not met.
Don’t you dare poke that!
Now THAT’s a Dolfin I can get behind....
Regards,
No mystery. Since animals mimic human behavior, they too, have formed violent street gangs who kill for no logical reason. :)
In a related story, cuddly house cats cruelly toy with mice before butchering them for pleasure.
ping
For who?
Dolphin yobboes and gangbangers! They are more human than we knew.
Must be because of the U.S Navy’s use of sonar. < sarcasm off >.
When good dolphins go bad, tonight on Animal precinct.
True, true, true! You always hear about the dolphin(s) that pushed the shipwrecked sailor to shore. You never hear about the one(s) that pushed the shipwrecked sailer further out to sea.
The ever increasing influence of MS-13.
For $250,000.00 in research funds I can give them the answer..........
Animals acting like animals???
NEVER!
pssst! that's sharks. and frickin' lasers...
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