CNN: Navy sonar and beached whales....coming up now

[ElsewheresDaughter]

here is link to july cnn article...
http://www.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/07/28/beached.whales/


July 28, 2000
Web posted at: 3:25 PM EDT (1925 GMT)


(CNN) -- Important clues have surfaced that may help prove a suspected link between beached whales and powerful sonar equipment used by the U.S. Navy and other nations around the world.

Scientists discovered the clues earlier this year in March, when seven whales were found dead on a Bahamas beach, near the time and location of a U.S. Navy sonar operation.

"We did have an operational exercise going on using ships with operational sonars," said Robert Pirie, assistant secretary, U.S. Navy. "...and that was closely correlated with the ... strandings and that's the source of our concern."

"The whale beachings came about the same day as a naval operation," said Roger Gentry of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The seven dead whales were found to have inner ear damage, which scientists said might have ruined their sense of direction and ability to navigate