On Friday afternoon, an eight-feet-long Indian Ocean humpback dolphin carcass was found near Girgaum Chowpatty. According to forest officials, the carcass washed ashore around 2 pm and a team of forest guards reached the site by 3 pm.
This is the third such incident in one month where dead dolphins have landed on Mumbai shoreline. Makarand Ghodke, assistant conservator of forest, state mangrove cell told Hindustan Times, “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.”
Prashant Deshmukh, range forest officer, State Mangrove Cell said, “During the monsoon, strong wind currents push dead or injured marine animals onto the coast along with the high tide. In July, there have been at least three cases of beaching incidents till now.” Earlier this month, on July 11, a dolphin carcass had washed ashore in Bandstand while, merely a day after, a huge humpback dolphin had washed ashore on Bandra’s Chimbai Beach.
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