Peru's Institute of the Sea's regional chief, Edward Barriga, described a similar event in the area from 1997 when a lack of anchovies resulted in the deaths of pelicans and cormorants.

En cuanto a los pelícanos encontrados también sin vida en las costas norteñas, el reporte oficial cuenta 538, en diferentes estados de descomposición. Los cuerpos fueron hallados en la playa, sin rastros de haber sido varados por las olas marinas.

As the pelicans also found dead in the northern coasts, the official report has 538, in various states of decomposition. The bodies were found on the beach, no trace of having been stranded by the sea waves.

El conteo oficial es de 538 pelícanos y 54 piqueros (especie de alcatraz) muertos, en diferentes estados de descomposición, según el reporte, que da a entender que las aves murieron en la playa, en lugar de ser varadas por el mar.

The official count is 538 pelicans and 54 boobies (sort of alcatraz) dead, in various states of decomposition, according to the report, which suggests that the birds died on the beach, instead of being stranded by the sea.

Peru's government has declared a health alert along its northern coastline and urged residents and tourists to stay away from long stretches of beach as it investigates the unexplained deaths of hundreds of dolphins and pelicans.
At least 1,200 birds, mostly pelicans, have washed up dead along a stretch of Peru's northern Pacific coastline in recent weeks, according to health officials, and an estimated 800 dolphins have died in the same area in recent months.