CANBERRA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Wildlife experts are calling for an urgent investigation into the cause of dozens of dead or distressed kangaroos in an area affected by a recent marine algal bloom in South Australia.
At least eight dead kangaroos were spotted on the path to the Tunkalilla Beach, west of Victor Harbor, with many more likely in the grassy areas nearby, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Saturday which cited Surfer Anthony Rowland who spent the past two weeks monitoring the beaches.
Rowland was also reported to witness 10 to 15 kangaroos in severe distress, unable to stand, along with a mob of around 30 exhibiting abnormal behavior. Some collapsed when approached, a video clip filmed by Rowland showed.
"There were a couple of joeys standing by themselves and a couple more standing near the corpses," he was quoted as saying.
The Environment Protection Authority confirmed that the microalgal bloom, caused by Karenia mikimotoi, has been killing fish and making surfers ill since mid-March. Initially, officials speculated that the kangaroos had ingested toxic phalaris grass, which can cause neurological symptoms known as "phalaris staggers."
However, wildlife expert Wayne Boardman from the University of Adelaide urged a thorough investigation, questioning why phalaris staggers would be isolated to this area when it hasn't been observed elsewhere in South Australia, the ABC reported.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regions has launched an inquiry, aiming to determine whether the algal bloom, toxins, or other factors are responsible for the mass deaths of animals.
Biosecurity teams have been euthanizing about 50 severely affected kangaroos. Samples from the animals and water sources, including a nearby creek, lagoon, and ocean, have been collected for testing, according to the ABC report. ■
