Spinner dolphin washed ashore near Kalpakkam; second incident in a week

At 7.30 am on January 25, Sea Turtle Protection Force members, R. Sarveswaran and R. Devasundaram of TREE Foundation, found a dolphin washed ashore at the Uyyali Kuppam beach. “The stranded dolphin was 158 cm long and weighed over 40 kgs. Early investigation identified it as a female dolphin. There were many cut marks all over the dolphin carcass. The mammal was also missing one of its flippers and tail, which would have got entangled in a net. The jaw, too, was severely damaged and a little decomposed. 

The cause of death was identified as entanglement in fishing net, as the injuries in the caudal fin showed that it was a clear cut with a sharp instrument. The dolphin was buried 28 meters above the high tide line,” said.

Dr. Supraja Dharini of the TREE Foundation, which has been recording strandings of cetaceans and sea turtles. The extremely long, thin beak and dark eye-to-flipper stripes confirmed that the mammal was a Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris). 

The dolphin had a three part colour pattern (dark grey cape, light grey sides, and white belly) as well as 48 to 46 pairs of very fine, pointed teeth in each jaw – more than in almost any other cetacean species. This is the second such instance within a week. 

Earlier this week, a Risso’s dolphin was found dead on Alambarai Kuppam beach near Marakanam on January 22. “There were few deep cut like marks on the carcass, which could have been caused by entanglement in a strong net,” said Dr. Dharini, adding that two dolphins and 37 sea turtles were stranded since January 2016. In a majority of cases, the cause of death seemed to be due to fisheries interaction.