The mortality of penguins and other species on the coasts of Uruguay continues today without a determined cause, although the cold and lack of food could have played a role.

Montevideo.- In the last few days dozens of animals have appeared dead along the Uruguayan coast, especially from Montevideo to the department of Rocha, with its coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.

The organization SOS Rescate Fauna Marina detected the first cases in mid-July; in the municipality of La Paloma, Rocha, alone, the bodies of around 1,300 penguins were buried.

The mayor of that territory, Sergio Muniz, said that other lifeless animals, such as birds and fish, were also found.

All the penguins were very skinny and had no stomach or intestinal contents, and had not been fed for several days,” said Richard Tesore, of SOS Marine Wildlife Rescue.

In the absence of an exact definition of the causes of the mortality, Tesore mentioned the prevailing cold weather during this month.

The low temperatures could have affected the malnourished penguins without the layer of fat that protects them. (PL)