Zanzibar dolphins were 'lost'

2006-04-29 21:59

Zanzibar - The dolphins, washed ashore in Tanzania's semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago on Friday, died of natural causes, said marine experts on Saturday.

The University of Dar es Salaam's Zanzibar-based institute of marine sciences, Narman Jidawi, said at least 300 of the dolphins washed ashore had migrated from the Indian Ocean.

Jidawi said: "The results of our investigations carried out since Friday shows that the dolphins died of a natural disaster, known as confused eco-location.

"Since the dolphins move in schools, and we think they were looking for food, unfortunately they were trapped or stranded during the tides.

"We believe that the dead dolphins are the immigrants from Southern Africa. They are not Zanzibar dolphins, so Zanzibaris, and specifically the tourism department, should not worry, we still have our dolphins.

"However, we are still continuing with investigations."

Fishermen and residents on Kendwa, Tazare, and Kigunda Nungwi disposed of the rotting carcasses on Saturday.

Fishermen were loading them onto boats and tossing them into the sea.

Some residents were burying the dead animals, others carrying the bodies home for food - despite warnings from the authorities against consuming them.

Zanzibar resident Abubakar Mirando said: "The dead dolphins have started to stink and, since Friday evening, residents started burying them.

"Unfortunately it is difficult to bury all the dead dolphins because they are many."

- AFP