At least 5,000 pelicans and other ocean birds washed up on the
country’s northern coast just weeks after more than 900 dolphins
died in the same area. In total, nearly 3,000 of the marine
mammals have perished so far this year, which some scientists
say was mainly due to seismic testing for oil offshore. The
government and one of the exploration companies operating
offshore say the dolphins succumbed to a virus. Initial tests
suggest the dead birds were malnourished, leading officials to
say the two die-offs are entirely unrelated. They point to a
mass pelican death along the same stretch of coast in 1997 that
was due to a shortage of anchovies, which were driven off by the
El Niño ocean-warming phenomenon. The Health Ministry said sea
surface temperatures have risen and the usual schools of
anchovies “have moved elsewhere.” But long-term residents say
they have never seen anything like the current spate of wildlife
fatalities. Some say they fear offshore oil exploration could be
disturbing marine life, or pe