Eighty-six dolphins were found dead on Tuesday on an island off the coast of Mozambique, the cause of their death still unknown, the country’s Environment Ministry said.
Several dolphins had already been discovered dead on Sunday at the same place. In total, 111 marine mammals have been found by the authorities.
“The team from the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, in Inhambane province, found 86 lifeless dolphins on the west coast of Bazaruto Island,” according to a statement from the ministry on Tuesday.
The archipelago is located in the Mozambique Channel, between the coast of this country and Madagascar.
An investigation is underway to determine the origin of the death of marine animals.
The team of researchers sent to the field did not find any trace of injury on the dolphins, nor any suspicious substance in their digestive system, the authorities said in the press release.
The Bazaruto Archipelago National Park is Mozambique’s first marine park.
Its protected waters are home to many marine mammals such as dolphins, whales and dugongs.
It is also home to 180 species of birds, 45 reptiles, 16 types of land mammals, as well as 500 marine and coastal species, and 2,000 fish.