Nature
Flamingo deaths at Namibian coast linked to underwater eruptions

Misanet.com / The Namibian, 19 February - Two major sulphur eruptions at the Namibian coast over the past two weeks could be causing death of flamingos. Many dead flamingos have been seen since the first eruption about two weeks ago, while flocks of curlew sandpipers have been noticed in gardens looking for food.

- The eruptions cause everything to suffer, said Bronwen Currie of the Namibian National Marine Information and Research Centre at Swakopmund. She said hydrogen sulphide is highly toxic and results in wash-ups of dead and dying fish, rock lobster and other invertebrates.

The diluted gas is a respiratory toxin, effectively stopping breathing and thereby asphyxiating the animals - which means they can still be safely eaten, Currie explained. But this means the sulphide wipes out the food supply of other animals, such as birds. It would seem the flamingos are dying of starvation. A local vet carried out an autopsy on a flamingo and found it to be under weight, which supports the starvation theory. 

It would seem the curlew sandpipers, which are mid-tide feeders, are being forced to find alternative sources of food. The fact that they are feeding in gardens, not their preferred feeding ground, is a further indication of the shortage of food in the sea.

Although the logical deduction would be that the occurrence of the hydrogen sulphide in the sea water is the cause for all of this, Currie emphasised that this theory has not yet been scientifically proven.

The Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is conducting an intense research programme on the phenomenon. It could not be confirmed how many flamingos are dying as most reports at this stage are hearsay, but quite a few dead birds have been noticed at Pelican Point, while there are more corpses at the Swakopmund salt works than normal.

Because of their weakened condition, the flamingos are also an easy target for jackals at the moment. 

It would seem the only species to benefit from these eruptions are humans. There is no need for diving suits to survive the cold water as crayfish can simply be picked up from the beach as they are washed up. A Sea Fisheries inspector warned, however, that regulations still apply and that people are only allowed seven per day and that they should be the right size.

By Maggi Barnard, The Namibian

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