Since last Thursday, the SOS Dolfijn foundation has been flooded with reports of dead porpoises. All animals washed ashore were found on the north side of the Wadden Islands.
‘Unknown’
This is not surprising, since there has been a northerly wind for a few days. It would also have ensured that so many dead animals were washed ashore. “But such numbers in such a short period of time seems unprecedented,” writes SOS Dolphin.
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More extensive research is needed to find out what the cause is. The foundation mentions various activities in the Wadden Sea as a possible cause. For example, a wind farm is currently being constructed north of the Wadden. An international exercise by the navy was also launched in the area last week. “Such activities can be detrimental to a harbor porpoise”, according to SOS Dolfijn.
It is possible that even more porpoises will wash ashore in the coming days, the foundation warns. The Coast Guard saw even more dead porpoises off the coast of the islands. The cadavers are removed from the island and examined by the University of Utrecht.
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