Reports of violent interactions between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the coastal waters of the UK are well documented. Examination of stranded cetaceans in south west England conducted under the collaborative UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme has also found pathology consistent with bottlenose dolphin interaction in seven animals from four other species since 2001, including two juvenile and two adult common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), one juvenile pilot whale (Globicephala melas), one juvenile Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) and one adult striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). Although traumatic lesions recorded were often not as severe as those found in harbour porpoises, it is probable that the interactions did contribute to stranding and/or death in all four juvenile animals examined.  Retrospective analysis of photographs of stranded cetaceans also revealed rake (teeth) marks consistent with bottlenose dolphin interaction in a stranded common dolphin as early as 1992. A number of causes have been suggested for these interactions in UK stranded harbour porpoises and it is possible that any combination of these factors may also be implicated in cases occurring in other species.   The initial findings in the south west were presented as a poster at the European Cetacean Society conference in 2009 and a number of attendees came forward detailing similar findings in their own strandings programmes.    Although a more detailed paper has already been accepted for publication on the SW England cases, we would be interested to hear from those at ECS and other colleagues internationally who have evidence of similar interactions, potentially with a view to production of a paper that could consider any spatiotemporal trends in the data set and further exploration of possible causes.

 

James Barnett, Nick Davison, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Truro, UK

Paul Jepson, Rob Deaville, Institute of Zoology, London, UK

(Contact: James Barnett, e mail: j.barnett@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk )

Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA)

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see http://www.defra.gov.uk/vla/news/new_conf_vla2009.htm
 
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