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Introduction
September 10 ,
2007 - Cat Litter Threatens Dolphin, Whales and Sea Otters
By Hardy Jones
The human footprint on the world is heavy indeed, even among
the best intentioned.
Cat litter flushed down toilets by pet owners may be the
cause of death for dolphins, whales and porpoises around
the coast of Britain. Public health experts have found evidence
of a common parasite in dead marine mammals and say cat owners
who dump litter boxes into toilets could be the unwitting
source.
Cats are essential to the life cycle of the parasite Toxoplasma
gondii, and the only animals which shed T-gondii through
their feces, which can infect most mammals and birds when
it enters the food chain.
In California concern that cat feces have contributed to
sea otter deaths has led to warnings on cat litter bags that
contents of litter boxes should be disposed of by placing
them in a plastic bag and putting them in the trash. Scientists
studying a mysterious decline in sea otters off California
are now placing blame on cat owners who flush cat feces into
the marine ecosystem through their toilets.
Toxic Algae off Los Angeles Killing Scores of Sea Lions
Toxic algaes known as harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a
dramatically increasing problem worldwide. See my last blog
about how they are affecting Florida.
The current outbreak of toxic algae off Los Angeles Harbor
is the most virulent on record. So many sick and dieing seals
and sea lions are stranding on the beaches that marine mammal
rehabilitation centers have become overwhelmed. As a result
some sickened sea lions cannot be taken to treatment centers.
The affected animals suffer seizures and brain damage brought
on by the algae’s powerful neurotoxin.
A question I ask myself constantly is “What in hell
will it take to generate popular awareness and demand for
political action to stop the abominations we are perpetrating
against the life support system of our planet? Where is the
tipping point where people say “Alright! Enough.” Shouldn’t
marine mammals dieing on our most popular beaches be a wake
up call? How about air contaminated by gasses put out by
algae in the Gulf of Mexico forcing residents and tourists
to wear surgical masks off some of Florida’s most beautiful
beaches? (See blog of August 9 - 10) That’s not enough
to move the political powers that be? It should be enough.
But agricultural political clout is strong and measure to
improve the situation would be costly.
Epidemic Threatens Dolphins Around Spain
Spain has asked nations around the Mediterranean to help
monitor an infection that may become an epidemic threatening
dolphins. There was a similar epidemic during the 1990s.
Morbillivirus, a potentially fatal infection, was found
in dead striped dolphins -- a protected species -- washed
up on beaches in Spain. This same virus causes measles in
its human form.
Why Morbillivirus, which is commonly found in the environment,
is suddenly killing these dolphins is under investigation.
The warning signs are everywhere.
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