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Viewing cable 06DARESSALAAM712, DEAD DOLPHINS ON ZANZIBAR: US NAVY IMPLICATED IN

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06DARESSALAAM712 2006-05-02 16:09 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Dar Es Salaam
VZCZCXYZ0008
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDR #0712 1221609
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021609Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3852
UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000712 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OES/OA FOR JFIELD, OES/OMC FOR DWARNER-KRAMER, OES/PCI FOR 
ESHAW, AF/E FOR BYODER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV PREL EWTR MOPS TZ
SUBJECT: DEAD DOLPHINS ON ZANZIBAR: US NAVY IMPLICATED IN 
PRESS 
 
1.  (U)  SUMMARY:  More than four hundred dead dolphins have 
washed ashore on Zanzibar since April 27.  Although the cause 
of death is not yet known, various theories have been put 
forward, including sonar from the US Navy.  Post requests 
guidance in responding to the implication of US Navy sonar in 
the death of these animals, regarding both USG activities in 
the area and the effects of sonar on marine mammals.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
Implicating the USG 
------------------- 
2.  (U)  A May 1 article in the Guardian newspaper states 
"(t)here is a US Navy taskforce that operates off the coast 
of East Africa as part of counterterrorism operations, but 
the Americans have refused comment on the dolphin deaths." 
The article's front-page headline reads "Sonar use 'possible 
cause' of deaths of dolphins," and the article states that 
"some marine biologists are pointing to the use of sonar by 
the US Navy as a factor in the deaths."  The article also 
states that "(i)n 2000, the Americans acknowledged that sonar 
likely contributed to the stranding of whales in the 
Bahamas."  An April 29 report on CNN.com states that marine 
biologists were examining whether U.S. Navy sonar threw the 
animals off course. 
 
Cause of Death 
-------------- 
3.  (U)  The animals washing ashore are bottlenose dolphins, 
normally found in deeper water and not common to the area 
where they were found dead.  Press reports state they are all 
adults, may not have eaten for some time and that many were 
bleeding in the eyes.  In an April 29 Guardian newspaper 
article, Nariman Jidawi, a researcher at the Zanzibar-based 
Institute of Marine Science at the University of Dar es 
Salaam, cited several possible causes of death:  oil 
pollution; eating red seaweed; or being left behind when the 
tide recedes.  The May 1 reports added sonar and toxins from 
red tide as possible causes, noting "some scientists have 
suggested that loud bursts of sonar may disorientate or 
frighten ocean animals and cause them to rise to the surface 
too quickly," resulting in nitrogen bubbles in tissue, the 
equivalent of the bends.  Biologists from the University of 
Dar es Salaam performed autopsies on some of the dolphins, 
but results are not yet public. 
 
Location 
-------- 
4.  (U)  An April 29 article in the Guardian newspaper 
reported "the dead dolphins were scattered over a five 
kilometre stretch between Kendwa and Mkokotoni, north of 
Zanzibar" while the May 1 report cites a three-kilometer 
stretch.  The beach is frequented by tourists and the 
opportunity to swim with the dolphins is a tourist draw for 
the islands.  Local villagers have butchered many of the 
carcasses and officials advised them to bury the remains in 
order to control the smell. 
 
Comment 
------- 
5.  (U)  COMMENT:  Newspapers on Zanzibar and mainland 
Tanzania are following the investigation into the mysterious 
deaths of hundreds of dolphins off the coast of Zanzibar. 
Post anticipates it is only a matter of time before official 
comment is requested.  Further, increased promotion of 
USG-GOT engagement regarding coastal security and marine 
natural resources management may be at risk.  END COMMENT. 
RETZER