COCKBURN SOUND, Australia (27 Sep 2004) -- DOLPHINS in Cockburn Sound are being killed and maimed because of increasing contact with people. Marine experts and dolphin watchers have revealed that illegal feeding of the mammals has turned many into scavengers and several have been fatally injured by fishing lines, hooks and boat propellers. They are worried that an independent review of wildlife feeding guidelines, announced by Environment Minister Judy Edwards, might lead to more dolphin deaths. Hugh Finn of Murdoch University said Cockburn Sound's resident population of about 75 dolphins could be decimated within 10 years if people continued to try to domesticate them. "The dolphin population in Cockburn Sound experiences high levels of mortality, injury and biological stress from direct interaction with humans," he said. "Their future survival depends upon a handful of females and it only takes a small increase in the mortality rate to seriously affect the entire population." Should divers boycott PADI Project Aware to help stop commercial interactive feeding and related harassment of marine wildlife? Go to ScubaPoll™ and let the world know where you stand. |
|
Several calves died after being struck by the propellers of boats that had come too close. "Feeding the dolphins has a range of harmful effects, including risky behaviour where dolphins get too close to people, boats and fishing lines," Mr Finn said. Of the 12 dolphins which had been regularly "begging" in Cockburn Sound, he said three had scars from propeller lacerations. Increased contact with humans also broke down the tightly knit structure of the dolphin groups, turning some males into outcasts. "Can't we think of better ways to co-exist (with dolphins) than making them a pet for our own amusement?" he said. | | Attn: Project Aware - "Feeding the dolphins has a range of harmful effects, including risky behaviour where dolphins get too close to people, boats and fishing lines". With the number of boats in Cockburn Sound predicted to increase to 75,000 by 2021, the problem could get worse. Sally Kirby of Mandurah Dolphin Watch said a Rockingham dolphin died recently after swallowing a line of fish hooks. "People find it fun to feed dolphins, but they are wild animals, not circus animals," she said. She said feeding decomposing fish to dolphins put them at risk of bacterial infection. CALM's chief zoologist, Peter Mawson, said he could not predict the results of the independent inquiry into feeding of wildlife, but said dolphin feeding was "a very bad idea". "Animals always lose out when people get involved," he said. SOURCE - Sunday Times |
