A photo from open sources
Seals have been accused of the brutal killing of hundreds of stupid dolphins, whose mutilated corpses in large numbers the sea throws on the coast of the Netherlands. Pinnipeds began to kill dolphins for the sake of entertainment, the authors of the article in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Research Summary Briefed by The Guardian. Dutch scientists tested DNA from wounds 721 dolphins washed ashore from 2003 to 2013. It turned out that a quarter of the animals were mutilated and killed by gray seals. Scientists they suspect that the actual number of seal victims is significantly higher: many corpses (with open stomach or throat) immediately fall on bottom, and a large number of dolphins also die from wounds in the open the ocean. “This is a new form of behavior. Normally, seals feed fish and shellfish. But they switched to mammals. To me it seems that it is not about the depletion of fish resources – they just learned a new trick, “said the study leader. Mardisk F. Leopold About intentional two facts indicate an attack: acute bleeding in dolphins found on the shore and traces of undigested food in their stomachs. That is, seals did not eat corpses, but attacked the living individuals. 
Photos from open sources Scientists suggest that predatory seals at first they fed on the bodies of dolphins falling into fishing nets. Over time, their tastes changed and they began to hunt living dolphins. 
Photos from open sources Researchers also fear that this form of behavior of pinnipeds will be dangerous and for people. At risk are all who swim off the coast of the Netherlands and Great Britain. In the seas of the second of these countries, about 180 live thousand long-mouthed seals (one third of the world population). “Many dolphin corpses were discovered on shores that frequented by bathers and surfers. Danger cannot be ruled out that seals will attack people, “added the doctor Leopold.
Dolphins DNA
