[CPEO-MEF] Sonar Tests a Likely Link to Whale Deaths

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

[THE LA TIMES REQUIRES REGISTRATION IN ORDER TO VIEW THIS ARTICLE.
REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY]

Sonar Tests a Likely Link to Whale Deaths
Probe: An initial study shows ear and brain trauma in mammals that
washed up in the Canary Islands during military exercises held there.
By KENNETH R. WEISS, TIMES STAFF WRITER

The 15 beaked whales that beached themselves last week on the Canary
Islands off northwest Africa during a multinational naval exercise
suffered ear and brain trauma that may have been caused by
high-intensity sonar, according to a preliminary analysis.

Dr. Michel Andre, a veterinarian leading the investigation, noted Monday
that "necropsies showed the presence of unspecific lesions, including in
the brain and the hearing system, consistent with acoustic impact."

If a final analysis confirms these findings, it would be the second time
that scientists have direct evidence linking mass stranding of whales to
bursts of powerful active sonar used by U.S. and other warships.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-whale1oct01.story

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~