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    Dead Dolphins Wash Up In Mauritius After Japanese Oil Tanker Spill

    28 august 2020

    A number of dead dolphins have washed up on the shores of Mauritius after thousands of gallons of oil were spilled into the sea when a Japanese ship ran aground last month.

    At least 14 marine mammals were found dead on the coast, along with other Electra dolphins that are stranded on shore and presumed to be severely ill.

    This comes after the Japanese ship MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef on 25 July, leading environmental campaign group Greenpeace to call for an investigation into the incident.

    The Japanese bulk carrier ship was battered around by the seas for days after running aground, before the hull eventually cracked and it started to leak fuel into the surrounding waters on 6 August.

    The leak sent a lot of oil into the Mahebourg Lagoon, which then contaminated a protected wetlands area, an area of mangrove swamp, and a small island that is a wildlife and bird sanctuary.

    After that, the ship split into two pieces and the bow - which was the smaller of those two pieces - was towed out to sea by another boat, where it was sunk.

    The captain of the ship and first officer have since been charged with 'endangering safe navigation'. It is not yet known why the ship was so far off course when it struck the reef.

    • Dead Dolphins Wash Up In Mauritius After Japanese Oil Tanker Spill

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