Gray Seals Behind Porpoise Massacres, Scientists Warn [View all]

[IDemo]

Scientists are urging swimmers in Britain to avoid gray seals, after a recent revelation that the seals are behind the death and mutilation of hundreds of harbor porpoises.

Scientists discovered harbor porpoises beached on the coast of Netherlands, but they had no idea why the porpoises were dying. Some people suspected that fishermen were harming the porpoises. However, a group of scientists that studied the marine mammals for eight years determined the cause of death: gray seals. The carnivorous seals had learned a deadly new trick, and were killing porpoises.

Furthermore, the scientists said that they had no reason to believe gray seals wouldn't turn their deadly selves on humans, sooner or later. Gray seals are much larger than humans, weighing 551 pounds on average, and also larger than harbor porpoises, which average around 55 pounds.

"People go on excursions to swim or dive with gray seals, unaware that these animals can be quite dangerous for human-sized animals. Most people consider them quite cute," said Lineke Begeman, co-author of the study.

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/21022/20141126/north-gray-seals-behind-porpoise-massacres-scientists-warn.htm