Hundreds of dolphins stranded on Japanese coast

(Baonghean.vn) - Nearly 150 Electra dolphins - a species of dolphin living in tropical and subtropical waters that is on the brink of extinction, were stranded on a Japanese beach on April 10.

Locals and coast guard personnel try to help dolphins in distress on the coast of Japan. Photo: AFP.

Immediately, local people, coast guard forces and authorities quickly deployed many rescue activities for the dolphins. It is known that the area where the dolphins stranded is located in Hokota town, 100km northeast of Tokyo.

Rescuers kept pouring water on the stranded dolphins to keep their skin moist while trying to get them back into the sea. Many of the dolphins were injured with deep cracks. Others died and were buried by locals.

The Coast Guard said they usually see one or two stranded dolphins each year, but this is the first time they have encountered hundreds of them stranded. Scientists were also present to investigate the cause of the phenomenon.

According to Tadasu Yamadao, a researcher at the National Museum of Natural Science, the ultrasonic waves that dolphins emit to determine their location may be absorbed by sand dunes, leading to disorientation. In 2011, 50 Electra dolphins were stranded on the coast of Japan. Coincidentally, the stranding location of the 50 dolphins in 2011 was not far from the above location.

Chu Thanh– according to Le Monde April 10