Another dolphin carcass found at Marine Lines, 94th such case since 2016

Mumbai: A carcass of a three-and-a-half foot dolphin washed ashore at Marine Drive on late Tuesday evening opposite Marine Lines station. It is the seventh case since June where a marine mammal washed ashore and 13th this year. It is also 94th such case since 2016.

The mammal is said to be an Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin, according to state mangrove cell. “It was a juvenile dolphin which washed ashore during high tide. The animal seemed to have died a while back since the body was found in a decomposed state. As a result, an autopsy could not be carried out and it was buried,” said Makarand Ghodke, assistant conservator of forest, state mangrove cell. Ghodke also added the forest department was worried as the cases were rapidly increasing.

The mangrove cell has also decided that owing to numerous cases of dead marine animals along the Mumbai coastline, the Maharashtra forest department will begin a five-year-long study using noise monitoring instruments at sea.

“The project is expected to begin in November and it will study the population, behaviour and threats to marine animals,” said Ghodke.

In May, a 7-8-ft-long carcass of an Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin washed ashore the rocky end of Versova beach.