Carlos Bocanegra, a biologist at National University of Trujillo, explained that anchovies, the main prey of pelicans and other sea birds, have migrated to the south due to the warm offshore waters.

"When we examined the pelicans, we found that they have low muscle mass due to severe malnutrition. This fact coincides with the lack of food," he said.

Pelicans are also migrating to the south in search of food, and in desperation, eat catfish mixed with sand, which damages their digestive systems, Bocanegra added.

(END) OPC/JOT/MOC/EEP