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Scientists: dolphins killing porpoises on CA coast

Published online on Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

The Associated Press
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MOSS LANDING, Calif. -- Marine biologists believe they have found the culprit in attacks on porpoises off the California coast: dolphins.

Scientists with the nonprofit conservation group Okeanis say they captured video of a group of bottlenose dolphins attacking and killing a porpoise.

For the past five years, there have been a growing number of dead harbor porpoises washing up on California shores. The scientists had suspected dolphins were to blame because of the type of injuries the porpoises sustained, but now the video supports the theory.

Okeanis is collaborating with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Marine Mammal Center, Long Marine Lab and the Moss Landing Marine Mammal Center to find out why the relatively docile dolphins are attacking.


Information from: Santa Cruz Sentinel, http://www.santacruzsentinel.com

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