The Environmental Management Authority’s Emergency Response and Investigations (ERI) unit has concluded its investigation into the dead pelicans at Point Sable Beach in La Brea. According to their labs the pelican that was tested suffered some sort of trauma while eating before its death.

Below are their full findings,

“The following is a summary of our findings to date:
• Dead pelicans have always been observed in varying degrees of decomposition within La Brea.

• The EMA coordinates with relevant agencies when investigating these incidents including the Wildlife Section of the Forestry Division, Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Disaster Management Unit of the Siparia Regional Corporation and Marine Mammal Stranding Network (dolphins/ mammals).

• In January/February 2017, on site necropsy was conducted and samples secured. The results were inconclusive.

• In February 2018, there were dead fishes at Point Sable and Carat Shed and none at Coffee and Station Beach. A dead pelican was observed only at Carat Shed and was not suitable for sampling.

• In December 2019, the ERI visited Point Sable on Sunday 29th December and found 12 pelicans in various stages of decomposition with one suitable for necropsy. The sample was sent to a vet lab on Monday 30th December as part of the EMA’s investigations to ascertain the cause of death.

• The vet lab’s report was received on Thursday 2nd January 2020. The main findings were that the bilateral fractures of the pelican’s wings were likely induced by some form of trauma and that there was evidence that the bird was still eating on or around the time of death.”

The vet report states: “The main findings were the bilateral fractures of the wings were likely induced by some form of trauma. This may have led to sepsis and/or hypovolemia and the eventual death of the animal.”