US govt probes possible submarine link to dolphins' death

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2005

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US government has launched an investigation into whether the mass beaching of dolphins in south Florida this past week was caused by naval exercises involving a sonar-equipped submarine, officials said.

More than 60 disoriented dolphins swam into ankle-deep waters off the Florida Keys near the town of Marathon last Wednesday, prompting a massive rescue operation involving wildlife officials and dozens of volunteers.

Some mammals have been successfully led back to deep water. But about two dozen others have already died or have been euthanized to stop their suffering. More dolphins are being taken care of by biologists and park rangers.

Nobody knows exactly at this point what caused the dolphins to beach.

But US Navy and...