Why Dolphins Die?

Lela Dumbadze, Newspaper “Batumelebi”

About one hundred dolphins have been rejected by the Black Sea on the Batumi coast for the last three years. The last rejected dolphin was observed several days ago.  The reason of the mortality among dolphins is acute virus which proves the pollution of the Black Sea as the specialists claim.

Newspaper “Batumelebi” interviewed the head of the non-governmental organization Flora and Fauna Archil Guchmanidze and asked how the endangered dolphins might be rescued.

-Mr. Archil, is there any statistics about the mortality among dolphins per year?

-There is no exact statistics but last year we have observed 66 similar facts and 19 two years ago. Dead dolphins were rejected this year too. This process intensively starts in March and lasts till the late September.

-What is the reason for the mortality among dolphins?

-There are several reasons. First reason is navigation trauma, then biological death and trauma from fishing when a dolphin gets trapped in the net and dies within 20 minutes because they are mammals and can breathe only in the atmosphere. The most serious reason is virus of dolphins – streptococcus of the spinal brain which is widely spread in the Black Sea region and is not only local problem. We cooperate with other Black Sea Region countries and as far as we know, they studied the virus and concluded that dolphins died because of this virus; the virus is provoked by the polluted sea.

-Does it mean that the sea in Batumi is also polluted? And is it dangerous for human health?

-Of course it is. If the sea water were clean on our coast, only several dolphins would have been rejected by the s ea. However, unqualified environmentalists allege the opposite. Dolphin is a warm-blooded mammal and there are many similarities between their and human bodies. Consequently, people can also get ill with this virus. Moreover, this process lasts from March to September during vegetation period and completely coincides with the tourist season.

-Can preventive measures be taken?

-The only prevention is to clean the sea water. We cannot sail into the sea and cure dolphins there, it is absurd. So, we should try to keep the sea water clean. In addition, when the dead dolphins are rejected, governmental institutions – sanitary and environmental agencies should respond to this fact operatively. We created a national network which updates us with the information though it is not enough. It is the issue of state security because it can influence our health and security services should also involve in these activities.

-Were the rejected dolphins examined at the laboratories and what disease might be caused by the virus among population?

-The same diseases as in dolphins. We sectioned dead dolphins and examined them patanatomically. The death reason was the virus. We do not have enough competence for further examinations; special institutions should do it.

-Can the pollution of the Black Sea endanger the dolphins?

-Of course, the threat is huge. The number of dolphins is reducing and they are already on the list in the Red Book. Not only Georgia but international organizations should also take care of them; though we cannot protect them. In one occasion, 6 dolphins were rejected together; although they were alive, they had lost coordination. It is useless to medically treat them because the disease is developing in radical forms. We discussed to create rehabilitation centers but there is no similar practice in Georgia. The most real resolution of the problem is to take measures to clean the sea water; it will assist both dolphins and our own health.

Source:   http://netgazeti.ge/GE/53/Life/5098/რატომ-იღუპებიან-დელფინები.htm