Malaysia: Rare dolphin found dead in Pengkalan Balak, Malacca

JASON JOHN New Straits Times 21 Jun 15;

ALOR GAJAH: A male dolphin, weighing about 100 kilograms, was found dead and washed ashore on the beach of Tanjung Serai, here, on Saturday evening.

The 2.13 metre long dolphin, a rare species was found with wounds in its mouth and bruises on the bottom right flipper.

A chalet owner who found the dead dolphin is said to have brought the mammal to the Turtle Management and Information Centre in Padang Kamunting in Pengkalan Balak.

State Fisheries Department head of Fisheries Extension Division, Mohd Azam Jusoh said the department received information about the discovery of a dead fish at about 6pm on Saturday and immediately went to the scene along with four department staff.

He said the dolphin, a Irrawaddy Dolphin, was endangered and rare species is believed to have spent the last few days without food based on the wounds in the mouth caused by ulcer. "Upon arrival we found the dolphins already dead. We believe it had died less than 24 hours based on the animal’s physical form.

"We noted swelling under the right flipper and the animal’s skin had started to peel off as a result of being out of the water for some time," he said.

For the record, Mohd Azam said this was the first time a dolphin was found dead off the coast of the Straits of Malacca since 1998.

Mohd Azam said he had taken a few small samples from the dolphin's fin for research purposes and it would be sent to the laboratory at the Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre in Rantau Abang, Terengganu.

"As for the carcasses of fish we will soon bury it for about six weeks before digging up its bones to be exhibited," he said.