| Dead dolphin found |
| Written by Chat Anupan |
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A DEAD dolphin was found in a beach in Ban Tai, Moo 6, Maenam subdistrict, an official from Samui Rescue Foundation said. Residents near the beach discovered the decomposing marine mammal, which measured 3 meters long and weighed 100 kilograms, last May 15. The locals were led to their discovery by an unpleasant odor emitted by the rotting dolphin, which they surmised to have been already dead for two days.They immediately called Police Sub Lt. Vittawat Phetcharak and Samui Rescue to report their find. A fisherman told the police official that the dead mammal was an Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwaddy dolphin and was about 4 years old. After examination, the official suggested that it could have been killed by a trawl because its torso was wounded as if it had been tightly held by a trawl net used by fishermen to catch fish in the sea. Marine expert say that Irrawaddy dolphins are mostly found in the Gulf of Thailand, specifically between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. It is reported that the gulf’s closed season allows more dolphins to hunt for food in the sea near Koh Samui. During this season mackerel fish is bountiful. Fishing is prohibited as this is the mating season for mackerels, the favorite food of dolphins. Each year lots of dolphins are reportedly killed as they get caught by trawls and other fishing nets of local fishermen. — |
