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The Mystery of the Murdered Sea Mammals
Written by Chris 
The Galapagos Islands are world famous for their environment.
Who is massacring sea lions on the Galapagos Islands? Image by Carlos Ponte
But now it seems that the islands’ ecology and environment are being threatened by their own growing popularity, alien animal species, even global warming. But no threat is so sinister as the unknown murderer stalking some of the island's exotic animals.
Charles Darwin made the Galapagos famous after the islands’ animals inspired his theory of natural selection. The 19 islands were the first ever UN World Heritage site, and have become the most popular tourist attraction in Ecuador as eco-tourism has taken off. But a recent mysterious massacre has caused trouble in paradise.
Officials recently found the bodies of 53 sea lions on Pinta Island. The bodies included 25 young sea lions, six females, nine males, and even 13 baby animals. Someone had killed each of the animals with a forceful blow to the head, causing their skulls to cave in. Officials are mystified by the attacks, as there appears to be no real motive at present. Other than a broken skull, the sea lions showed no other injuries.
Had the lions been mutilated or injured in some way, it might be explainable. Certain sea lion parts, including the teeth and male genitals, are used as part of traditional Asian aphrodisiacs. In 2001, 35 male sea lions were killed for their parts in the same area. The animals are even occasionally hunted for their skin. Yet neither explanation could apply here, as the animals are intact.
According to Galapagos National Park official Victor Carrion, the attacks were “a massacre whose motives the prosecutor's office must clarify." Carrion added that no other animals have been found dead. National Park officials will be beefing up security on the islands by adding more patrols.
It would have been easy for the twisted killer to catch his prey. The Galapagos sea lions have no natural predators on land and almost no fear of humans. The carnivorous species is an important part of the island’s ecology, and any harm done to their population could threaten the fragile environment and animal diversity of the heritage site.
This case seems to have all the makings of a great crime thriller: a sympathetic victim, a savage and mysterious crime, and a shadowy unknown figure behind all of it. I have a theory based on my own very limited knowledge of the situation (it involves fishermen or a random crazy person), but I’m interested to hear what you think. Can you solve “The Mystery of the Murdered Sea Mammals”?
Source: BBC
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Comments
Jenja (not verified) says:
Jan 30th, 2008 at 5pm
Indeed, Andy. Most of the people live on Santa Cruz and a couple thousand on the largest of all the islands, Isabela. No other island is inhabited. Shanna, if you read more about the Galapagos in general, you may discover that tourism is one of the biggest issues, not the people who have been living there way before it was considered an international heritage site. I believe this is the work of fishermen not wanting to compete with the animals.
August (not verified) says:
Jan 30th, 2008 at 7pm
Dolphins have finally evolved opposable thumbs?...and a strange desire to murder sea lions? Sounds plausible to me.
Shanna (not verified) says:
Jan 29th, 2008 at 6pm
I recently took a trip to the Galapagos and it surprised me that so many people live on the islands. I thought that they were more of a protected habitat. I honestly feel that with all of the trouble going on with the fishermen over the last decade or so, that no permanent residents should be allowed to live anywhere in the Galapagos unless they are heavily involved in eco-tourism and strict regulations are put into place to make sure that they are living harmoniously with the environment. There is only one place on Earth like the Galapagos and if this recent event proves anything, it's that human beings are not responsible enough to live in close proximity such an area. It will be devastating a decade from now when a handful of ignorant people have destroyed the Galapagos and we find that it’s too late to save it. And aside from this happening in the Galapagos, it is absolutely heinous that someone would commit such a crime. The punishments that currently exist for people who harm animals are not strong enough. Once these people are caught, they should be tried for murder and reprimanded accordingly.
Andy w (not verified) says:
Shanna,
What a shame that the residents had to spoil your HOLIDAY... Perhaps you are right though and whenever we are lucky enough to go away the residents of our destinations can make themselves scarse, we don't want to see the real world do we? Lastly do your research, you went all the way and you didn't find out that some families have lived and farmed the gallapagos for longer than your family have been in their neighbourhood. What pesky locals...