Mysterious death of marine animals in Peru

The corpses of nearly 100 birds and marine animals appeared on a coast in Peru and scientists have yet to find the cause of their deaths.

>>>Video: Statistics of animal corpses on the coast of Peru

Sky News reported authorities discovered the bodies of 18 sea turtles, 22 sea lions, 16 sharks, 8 dolphins and 22 seabirds on an area over 120km long in Peru's Lambayeque coast. Most corpses have decomposed at different levels. Environmental workers have removed marine animal carcasses into bags to send to research facilities.

Jaime De La Cruz, an engineer at the Peruvian Oceanographic Institute, said that it is possible that scientists will find out what caused marine animals to die massively in a few weeks.

The environmental staff collected data about a body
animals on the Lambayeque coast on February 23. (Photo: Sky News)

The public raised many theories about the phenomenon of marine animals dying mass. Many people guessed they died from virus infection or poisoning, while some people suspected of offshore oil and gas exploitation.

Gabriel Quijandria, Peru's Deputy Minister of Environment, said the culprit could be a rise in sea temperature. When the sea is warmer, the food chain of marine animals is disturbed, making food more scarce.

"Although scientists have not finished the process of analyzing the bodies of animals, they have ruled out the possibility that they are infected with bacteria or heavy metals," he said.

Deputy Minister of Environment also speculated that a similar situation could occur at other coasts.

Peru's Ministry of Health advises people to stay away from the coasts around Lima and the north coast until scientists find the cause of the death of marine animals.