A dolphin washed up on the shores of San Nicolas Island late last month during the final stages of the Navy's sonar exercises, commonly linked to the death of whales and other ocean mammals, the LA Times has discovered.
San Nicolas Island, which is owned by the Navy, is the farthest out of the Channel Islands off the coast of California, passed Santa Catalina Island. The Navy also tests rockets on the Island, which commonly known to inhabit elephant seals.
The dolphin was found with blood in its ear canals and other fluid, common symptoms also shown on whales who were discovered with similar conditions before. The discovery on Jan. 29 was very small compared to the many whales found strewn on the Canary Islands in 2000.
However, veterinarians say that caution should be taken in jumping to conclusions, until radiologists can examine for magnetic images of the dead dolphin.
The news comes just week's before the Navy denied having any involvement in the whale and dolphin deaths due to their sonar tests.
Last week the Navy also filed an appeal against a federal court order that would strengthen the protection of whales in areas where they dwell and enforce extra precautions.
The federal court order would require that the Navy shutdown all sonar operations when whales are 2,200 yards within range and some spots near the Channel Islands.
In January, President George W. Bush sided with the Navy by exempting the agency from precautions in California because of concerns to ensure effective use of "national security," angering many environmental groups, according to the New York Times and Planetark.com.
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