The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network has responded to more than 60 stranded dolphins during the first two months of this year alone. More than two dozen of these cases have been reported in Galveston Country, including several incidents just this week.
However, research director Sarah Piwetz points out that “it is not uncommon during the months of January – March to see this occurrence along the Texas coast”. To ultimately “figure out why the dolphins are coming in, stranding and dying”, every case is approached “as an individual investigation”. They take samples from every animal to detect disease or illnesses, life history information and perform analyses to explore the environmental and human impact.
Accordingly, main reasons for the high stranding number are thought to be viruses and bacterial infections that might have a higher effect under cold weather conditions, as well as the calving season that comes with complicated births for mother and child and possible separations.
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