Dead&nbsp;dolphins&nbsp;that washed up in Mauritius near the site of an oil spill have so far been found to have wounds on their bodies but no trace of oil, preliminary autopsy results released on Thursday said.

Environmentalists are urgently seeking an explanation for the mysterious deaths of 27&nbsp;dolphins&nbsp;which washed ashore on Wednesday and Thursday, to determine whether they were killed by the spill.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/18-dead-dolphins-wash-up-on-mauritius-coast-after-oil-spill-by-japanese-ships-323328" hreflang="en">18 dead dolphins wash up on Mauritius coast after oil spill by Japanese ships</a>

Scientists fear the toxic spill could hurt wildlife for many years on islands that depend on tourism.

So far, veteranarians have examined only two of the&nbsp;dolphins. Authorities say autopsies will be performed on the rest.

"The preliminary results show that the animals did not have trace of hydrocarbon in their respiratory system, nor in their skin, throat or stomach," the report said. Both of the&nbsp;dolphins&nbsp;examined so far bore signs of injuries, it said.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/images-show-the-extent-of-ecological-damage-caused-by-oil-spill-off-mauritian-coast-319374">Images show the extent of ecological damage caused by oil spill off Mauritian coast</a>

The Japanese-owned MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier, ran aground on July 25 and began to spill oil about a week later. The ship was scuttled on Monday.

The autopsy on the first two was conducted by the government-run Albion Fisheries Research Centre.

"The autopsy will be carried out on all other&nbsp;dolphins," said Jasvin Sok Appadu from the fisheries ministry.

Local environmental group Eco-Sud called for the full autopsy results to be released publicly. International environmental pressure group Greenpeace called on the government of Mauritius to launch an inquiry to determine whether the deaths were linked to the oil spill.

Dead dolphins that washed up in Mauritius near the site of an oil spill have so far been found to have wounds on their bodies but no trace of oil, preliminary autopsy results released on Thursday said.

Dead dolphins that washed up in Mauritius near the site of an oil spill have so far been found to have wounds on their bodies but no trace of oil, preliminary autopsy results released on Thursday said. Environmentalists are urgently seeking an explanation for the mysterious deaths of 27 dolphins which washed ashore on Wednesday and Thursday, to determine whether they were killed by the spill. Also read: 18 dead dolphins wash up on Mauritius coast after oil spill by Japanese ships Scientists fear the toxic spill could hurt wildlife for many years on islands that depend on tourism. So far, veteranarians have examined only two of the dolphins. Authorities say autopsies will be performed on the rest. "The preliminary results show that the animals did not have trace of hydrocarbon in their respiratory system, nor in their skin, throat or stomach," the report said. Both of the dolphins examined so far bore signs of injuries, it said. Also see: Images show the extent of ecological damage caused by oil spill off Mauritian coast The Japanese-owned MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier, ran aground on July 25 and began to spill oil about a week later. The ship was scuttled on Monday. The autopsy on the first two was conducted by the government-run Albion Fisheries Research Centre. "The autopsy will be carried out on all other dolphins," said Jasvin Sok Appadu from the fisheries ministry. Local environmental group Eco-Sud called for the full autopsy results to be released publicly. International environmental pressure group Greenpeace called on the government of Mauritius to launch an inquiry to determine whether the deaths were linked to the oil spill.

Autopsy finds wounds but no oil on dolphins washed up near Mauritius spill

Eighteen melon-headed whales washed up on the shores of Mauritius on Wednesday, the country's fisheries minister said, dismissing any link to a devastating oil spill earlier this month.

The dolphins, some of which were still alive when they were found and later died, were stranded on the south-eastern beaches of Grand Sable, and some of them had injuries.

Fisheries minister Sudheer Maudhoo told a press conference that all 18 of the whales, a member of the&nbsp;dolphin&nbsp;family, had died, but that there was "no trace of hydrocarbons on them or in their respiratory system".

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/images-show-the-extent-of-ecological-damage-caused-by-oil-spill-off-mauritian-coast-319374">Images show the extent of ecological damage caused by oil spill off Mauritian coast</a>

An autopsy of the animals was being carried out on Wednesday evening. According&nbsp;Preetam Daumoo, a local government official said&nbsp;that he, like many residents who found the bodies, feared the stranding was a result of the island's recent oil spill.

Earlier this month a Japanese-owned bulk carrier ran aground on a coral reef around 10 kilometres&nbsp;from Grand Sable, spilling over 1,000 tonnes of fuel into the pristine waters.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japanese-experts-check-mauritius-coral-reef-after-oil-spill-322777/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The broken stem of the vessel was sunk in the open ocean on Monday.&nbsp;However, experts said it was too soon to say what had caused the deaths of the animals.

Owen Griffiths of the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society said&nbsp;"it is probably a very unfortunate coincidence", referring to a similar stranding in 2005 when 70 melon-headed whales stranded in the same area.

"Likely they followed a school of fish into the lagoon, got confused, could not find their way out to sea again and tried to head out to sea directly over the coral reef instead of finding the pass. In their panic and stress they collided with corals, became exhausted and died," he said.

"At this stage we have no idea of cause of death. An autopsy with stomach content analysis and lung examination, to look for oil traces, needs to be done."

Greenpeace called in a statement for an "urgent investigation" into the cause of the strandings.

Authorities and experts from Japan and Britain are still investigating the true extent of the ecological damage to an island whose economy depends heavily on tourism.

Initial reports suggest no major damage to the ocean floor or coral reef, however the remaining wreck is still grinding against the reef where it ran aground.

"If this situation continues, it could cause stress to the corals and could kill them," said Noriaki Sakaguchi, an ecosystems expert with Japan International Cooperation Agency.&nbsp;

The team of Japanese experts said Tuesday that the spilled oil has also reached the soft soil of mangrove forests along the coastline.

While there is no evidence of mangrove death yet, the oil could kill plants in the protected area in coming months, the team warned.&nbsp;

Eighteen melon-headed whales washed up on the shores of Mauritius on Wednesday, the country's fisheries minister said, dismissing any link to a devastating oil spill earlier this month.

Eighteen melon-headed whales washed up on the shores of Mauritius on Wednesday, the country's fisheries minister said, dismissing any link to a devastating oil spill earlier this month. The dolphins, some of which were still alive when they were found and later died, were stranded on the south-eastern beaches of Grand Sable, and some of them had injuries. Fisheries minister Sudheer Maudhoo told a press conference that all 18 of the whales, a member of the dolphin family, had died, but that there was "no trace of hydrocarbons on them or in their respiratory system". Also see: Images show the extent of ecological damage caused by oil spill off Mauritian coast An autopsy of the animals was being carried out on Wednesday evening. According Preetam Daumoo, a local government official said that he, like many residents who found the bodies, feared the stranding was a result of the island's recent oil spill. Earlier this month a Japanese-owned bulk carrier ran aground on a coral reef around 10 kilometres from Grand Sable, spilling over 1,000 tonnes of fuel into the pristine waters. The broken stem of the vessel was sunk in the open ocean on Monday. However, experts said it was too soon to say what had caused the deaths of the animals. Owen Griffiths of the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society said "it is probably a very unfortunate coincidence", referring to a similar stranding in 2005 when 70 melon-headed whales stranded in the same area. "Likely they followed a school of fish into the lagoon, got confused, could not find their way out to sea again and tried to head out to sea directly over the coral reef instead of finding the pass. In their panic and stress they collided with corals, became exhausted and died," he said. "At this stage we have no idea of cause of death. An autopsy with stomach content analysis and lung examination, to look for oil traces, needs to be done." Greenpeace called in a statement for an "urgent investigation" into the cause of the strandings. Authorities and experts from Japan and Britain are still investigating the true extent of the ecological damage to an island whose economy depends heavily on tourism. Initial reports suggest no major damage to the ocean floor or coral reef, however the remaining wreck is still grinding against the reef where it ran aground. "If this situation continues, it could cause stress to the corals and could kill them," said Noriaki Sakaguchi, an ecosystems expert with Japan International Cooperation Agency. The team of Japanese experts said Tuesday that the spilled oil has also reached the soft soil of mangrove forests along the coastline. While there is no evidence of mangrove death yet, the oil could kill plants in the protected area in coming months, the team warned.

18 dead dolphins wash up on Mauritius coast after oil spill by Japanese ships

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Autopsy finds wounds but no oil on dolphins washed up near Mauritius spill

18 dead dolphins wash up on Mauritius coast after oil spill by Japanese ships