Malaysia: Two dead dolphins washed up in Penang in under a week

AUDREY DERMAWAN New Straits Times 4 Jan 18;

GEORGE TOWN: Two dolphins have been found dead at the Tanjung Bungah beachfront in less than a week.

The first death was reported on Dec 29 while another death was reported today.

The double deaths have raised concern among environmentalists, who have called for a thorough probe into the incident.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia said the deaths of the mammals should be investigated.

The non-governmental organisation said that the earlier death was reported to the Fisheries Department but the department did not take any follow-up action.

"They just buried it instead of conducting an autopsy.

“We would not know the cause of death unless the department or the Fisheries Research Institute of Malaysia carries out a post-mortem," said a SAM representative.

The death of the mammals was first posted in the Pulau Parasit Facebook page.

According to the page, the dead dolphins were of the Indo-Pacific Humpback species.

Dolphins are a rare sight in Penang waters, but have been spotted around the island in recent weeks.

A local claimed to have seen several dolphins in the waters off Teluk Bahang on Christmas Eve, while another allegedly spotted a couple of dolphins near the Penang Bridge last Saturday.


Two dolphins found dead in less than a week
The Star 5 Jan 18;

GEORGE TOWN: A dead dolphin was washed ashore in Tanjung Bungah, the second within six days.

Environmental activist Andrew Ng Yew Han said the first dolphin, which was decomposing, was spotted last Friday at the same stretch of beach behind a hotel in Tanjung Bungah while another was found yesterday.

“I’ve asked the fishermen and residents’ association to let me know if there are more sightings of dead turtles or dolphins, and I alerted the authorities over the years whenever there are such sightings.

“This is to create more awareness and pressure the authorities to investigate such matters as it is vital to find out their cause of death,” he said.

She said the humpback species was among the four main species in Penang.

“We see them going around the island and they are commonly sighted in a big group heading north, west and south of the island.

“A post-mortem is needed to identify their cause of death.

“We are looking for funding. A proper lab is needed to do a post-mortem,” she said.