Phuket –
Marine authorities have confirmed the death of a young Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin after its carcass was discovered floating near Ao La, Racha Yai Island.
Officials from the Racha Islands Protected Area Management Center told the Phuket Express that they alerted the Phuket Marine Endangered Species Unit to the stranding. The dolphin, a juvenile male measuring 220 centimeters in length and weighing approximately 93 kilograms, was retrieved and sent for a necropsy.
Findings from the Necropsy
- Condition of the body: Fresh, with normal body condition score (BCS 3/5). Minor abrasions were observed along the flank.
- Cardiac abnormalities: Blood clots and white spots were found in the heart muscle.
- Spleen and immune response: The spleen appeared swollen and discolored, suggesting infection-related immune activity.
- Respiratory system: Large amounts of fluid and foam were present in the trachea and lungs, indicating the dolphin aspirated seawater before death.
- Other organs: Enlarged lymph nodes and uneven coloration of the liver pointed to systemic illness. The stomach contained natural food remains, showing the dolphin had been feeding prior to death.
The necropsy concluded that the dolphin died from drowning, likely triggered by acute illness stemming from internal infection.
No traces of oil or pollutants were detected externally, in the respiratory tract, or in the digestive system. Tissue samples have been collected for further laboratory analysis.
