Dolphin Deaths in the Gulf

Dolphin Deaths in the Gulf

The SunHerald of 16 November 2012 reported some dolphin deaths in the Gulf, http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/16/4309592/hunt-is-on-for-dolphin-killers.html#storylink=relast , and an investigator was appointed http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/20/4315408/noaa-appoints-investigator-to.html .

I am guessing that some dolphins that learned how to get a free lunch from those working on the water by making a hole in their nets and eating their catch were "discouraged" from stealing by a few bullets. It is difficult to discourage dolphins, people, and various other animals once they have learned how to get a free lunch at someone else's expense.

I also suspect the dolphin that got its lower jaw ripped off/cut off (?) got it caught in the net while trying to steal some catch, and the net was pulled in, tearing jaw off. Or the dolphin struggled so much to get loose (before it drowned) it tore its own jaw off and bled to death. Or the jaw was cut off after the dolphin drowned to remove it from the net.  This one was probably an accident.

The one with tail cut off could be due to tail getting caught in lines of net or net itself and it then drowned. Then it could have been cut loose and out of net tangle. This one was also probably an accident.

Dolphins sometimes drown when caught in nets and getting tangled up.

If we could somehow figure out a way to compensate those working on the water for net damage and loss of catch from dolphins eating catch or catch escaping out net holes the "discouraging" of stealing would probably stop. 


Adrian R. Lawler, Ph.D. (C) 2012 --