NOAA joins dolphin death investigation

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Scientists investigating the deaths of about two dozen baby dolphins along the Mississippi and Alabama coasts say it could be months before a cause is determined.

Moby Solangi, director of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, says of the 30 dead dolphins found since January, 24 have been babies.

Solangi tells The Mississippi Press that in the past two weeks there has been spike in the number of baby dolphin deaths.

Meanwhile, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official Trevor Spradlin tells The Sun Herald that the federal agency will join in efforts to speed up the examination of the dead calves.
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Information from: The Mississippi Press, http://www.gulflive.com
and The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com