THE dolphins which died in a mass beaching may have committed SUICIDE, a scientist revealed last night.

Leading wildlife pathologist Vic Simpson, who has examined some of the 26 bodies, said the animals died after swallowing mud that clogged up their insides.

He said: "On the face of it, it looks like mass suicide — but the question is, ‘Why?’

"The dolphins had swallowed and inhaled big chunks of mud from the estuary. Their lungs and stomachs were full of it. That is very bizarre.

"It could be a bacteria or viral infection — it’s too early to say."

Mr Simpson was yesterday still working at the scene on the River Percuil near Falmouth, Cornwall, where the dolphins died on Monday.

Distressed dolphins living in captivity have been known to kill themselves by slamming their heads on the side of the pool or by stopping coming up for air.

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The worst known case of suicide in the wild was last autumn, when 152 dolphins washed up in Iran. Locals tried to help them back to sea, but they kept re-beaching themselves in order to die.

The best-known suicide involved Cathy, one of the stars of TV series Flipper. She died in her trainer’s arms from self-induced suffocation.

Another theory put forward by experts is that the Cornwall dolphins panicked and swam into shallow water after being frightened by a predator killer whale or Navy exercises.

The Cornwall Wildlife Trust yesterday blamed fishing nets for the rising number of whale, dolphin and porpoise strandings on UK beaches.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1281170.ece

If you believe in the " Butterfly Chaos Theory " I would blame Wayne Rooney's wedding.

As a quick edit, the wedding of the year would probably account for the baby with the willy on his back as-well.

The Navy were testing a new sonar device at the time.

They have already denied complicity.

Two and two makes............................15 dead Dolphins, will we ever learn .

Moss

Leading wildlife pathologist Vic Simpson, who has examined some of the 26 bodies, said the animals died after swallowing mud that clogged up their insides.

Mr Simpson was yesterday still working at the scene on the River Percuil near Falmouth, Cornwall, where the dolphins died on Monday.

The place of death was mis-spelt. It should of read "

River Percuil near Foul-mouth, Cornwall.

One thinks the "Sun" could have gotten that one right or write

R.I.P to all them I say, sad days in "Foul-mouth, Cornwall"

Kan Win

P.S. and welcome on bored "Boater" . What was Page 3 like (in the Sun)? Did you have a whale of a time looking at T-its

On a sad note, over the weekend here in sunny HK, I was involved in lifting a beautiful, but sadly dead Whale Shark from the sea.

A few days before some kind soul had paid a bunch of local fishermen the equivalent of 100kBhat to release it from their nets. Nice fellows I here you say, as the fins alone would be worth more than that.

What a surprise after lifting the gentle two plus Tonne creature onto land, the dorsail fin had mysteriously " fell off " resulting in death.............yeh right....................Barstewerds

Maybe they'd been to Patters - seems to be the place for those with suicidal tendencies.

Disturbing questions are raised as to the porpoise of their actions.

Personally, although the event took place in Cornwall, I strongly suspect Wales.

Fishy...........There doesn't appear to be a sole survivor. I hake to say it, but I suspect a pikey...........then again cod have been anyone really.

Disturbing questions are raised as to the porpoise of their actions.

Personally, although the event took place in Cornwall, I strongly suspect Wales.

Oh dear.............

Fishy...........There doesn't appear to be a sole survivor. I hake to say it, but I suspect a pikey...........then again cod have been anyone really.

Deary Deary Me

Moss

Disturbing questions are raised as to the porpoise of their actions.

Personally, although the event took place in Cornwall, I strongly suspect Wales.

Oh dear.............

Fishy...........There doesn't appear to be a sole survivor. I hake to say it, but I suspect a pikey...........then again cod have been anyone really.

Deary Deary Me

Moss

Dory dory me....................................