<p>Dozens of dead stingrays appeared on a beach in Rio de Janeiro this week, sparking confusion and concern in the local community.</p>.<p>Local fishermen reported the first sightings early on Tuesday. A woman who lives in the fishing village said she noticed the incident shortly after dawn, prompting the arrival of vultures.</p>.<p>"This made us all sad. We've never seen the death of stingrays like this here," said fisherman Renato dos Reis Oliveira.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/dead-whales-washed-up-in-cyprus-likely-linked-to-earthquakes-1190134.html" target="_blank">Dead whales washed up in Cyprus likely linked to earthquakes</a></strong></p>.<p>Biologist Ricardo Gomes, from the Mar Urbano Institute, argued the absence of other dead species on the beach indicates the incident was likely not caused by pollutants or a lack of oxygen in the water.</p>.<p>"This makes the hypothesis of trawling more evident in the cases of these stingrays," he said.</p>.<p>Trawling is a fishing technique that involves pulling a net through the water behind one or more boats.</p>.<p>"This is not (the stingray's natural) place, so this is strange even for the people who are here and who live off fishing," said environmentalist Isabeli Delois.</p>.<p>"Something very bad happened," she added. </p>
<p>Dozens of dead stingrays appeared on a beach in Rio de Janeiro this week, sparking confusion and concern in the local community.</p>.<p>Local fishermen reported the first sightings early on Tuesday. A woman who lives in the fishing village said she noticed the incident shortly after dawn, prompting the arrival of vultures.</p>.<p>"This made us all sad. We've never seen the death of stingrays like this here," said fisherman Renato dos Reis Oliveira.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/dead-whales-washed-up-in-cyprus-likely-linked-to-earthquakes-1190134.html" target="_blank">Dead whales washed up in Cyprus likely linked to earthquakes</a></strong></p>.<p>Biologist Ricardo Gomes, from the Mar Urbano Institute, argued the absence of other dead species on the beach indicates the incident was likely not caused by pollutants or a lack of oxygen in the water.</p>.<p>"This makes the hypothesis of trawling more evident in the cases of these stingrays," he said.</p>.<p>Trawling is a fishing technique that involves pulling a net through the water behind one or more boats.</p>.<p>"This is not (the stingray's natural) place, so this is strange even for the people who are here and who live off fishing," said environmentalist Isabeli Delois.</p>.<p>"Something very bad happened," she added. </p>