Three more dolphins found dead in Chennai's beaches

 

Chennai:

Three more dolphins were found dead on the beaches along the Chennai coast taking the toll to six in the last two months.

Dr Supraja Dharini of Tree Foundation told Express that the caracass of the dolphins were found at the coast of Neelankari and Alamparai.

Dharini said her foundation received information regarding a dead dolphin along the seashore  between Alamparai to Vilamboor Kuppam at around 6.30am from Sea Turtle Protection Force Member (STPF) and a call again at around 7.10 am, from Neelankarai reporting two stranded dead dolphins.

She said the cause of death of dolphin at Alambarai was determined as accidental by-catch by  trawlfisher boats and entanglement in fishing nets, and most likely gill. The Spinner Dolphin at Alambarai was 181 cms in length and 122 cms in breadth. Its left flipper was 26 cms and right flipper was 30 cms. The dolphin was 6 feet long.

The other two dolphins found in Neelankarai, were in a decomposed stage. One was a dolphin calf and only the head and upper torso of the dolphin was found. The other one was a full grown adult Spinner Dolphin which did not have the tail part of it attached and its vertebrae was visible.

Dharini said the entanglement in fishing gear was determined to be the most probable cause of death.