3rd case in July: 8-ft dolphin washes ashore
MUMBAI: In the third case in July, a carcass of an eight-feet-long Indian Ocean humpback dolphin washed ashore at Girgaum Chowpatty on Friday afternoon.
This is the ninth case in 2018 and the ninetieth since 2016.
Forest officials said the carcass washed ashore around 2pm and a team of forest guards reached the site by 3pm. “The dolphin must have died within 72 hours of washing ashore. Therefore, an autopsy can be conducted. We have taken the body to Bombay Veterinary College in Parel for the same. It will be buried at Bhandup on Saturday,” said Makarand Ghodke, assistant conservator of forest, state mangrove cell.
Two dolphin carcasses washed ashore near Chimbai Beach on July 11 and Bandra Bandstand on July 12.
HT had on July 16 reported that post-mortem results from cases earlier this year revealed that three dolphins had died owing to respiratory infections. Marine biologists said coastal pollution could be the main cause for these deaths.
The autopsy of the dolphin that washed ashore at Bandra Bandstand earlier this month could not ascertain the exact cause of death as the body was mutilated, the autopsy report said. “Both lungs showed bluish black discoloration and were pulpy, indicating autolysis (destruction of cells or tissues by their own enzymes). Chambers of the heart were filled with clots, and blood spots were observed in almost all organs,” read the post mortem.
“In such circumstances, it is impossible to reveal the cause of death as the body is completely decomposed,” said Dr DP Kadam, pathology department, Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, who conducted the autopsy. Officials from the mangrove cell also said respiratory infection continues to be the primary reason for deaths. “This is the first conclusive evidence and seems to be the cause of recurring deaths. We hope the autopsy for the Girgaum dolphin can be done for more conclusive answers,” said Ghodke.