65 turtles and 14 dolphins, among other marine animals, have been found dead on the Pacific coast of Guatemala.
At least 65 turtles and 14 dolphins, among other marine animals, have been found dead on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, Guatemalan authorities announced on Thursday, who have opened an investigation, suspecting a possible link with pollution.
In total, “65 turtles were counted, mostly of the species of olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), and 14 dolphins,” the National Council for Protected Areas told AFP. The bodies were discovered between Monday and Wednesday.
One of the explanations put forward for these suspicious deaths could be the heavy rains of recent days, which carry certain toxic waste from the land to the sea, affecting marine fauna. “On the other hand, it is suspected that non-artisanal fishing activities are developing offshore. These are just some of the hypotheses”, underlines the organization, which ordered autopsies to determine the cause of these deaths.