Female dolphin, calf washed ashore

A dead female ‘pan tropical spotted dolphin’ and her calf were washed ashore at Nainar kuppam on Monday.

Members of Tree Foundation found the adult female dolphin had just started to give birth to the young one, but both died due to haemorrhaging and subsequent blood loss. The dolphin weighed about 210 kgs and was buried along with the calf after an external examination.

Supraja Dharini of Tree Foundation said there were six strandings recorded so far from November along Chennai coast. “Usually there are about 11 to 14 dolphin strandings recorded between November and May. The numbers have come down so far,” she said. Residents can call 94443 06411 in case they come across stranded marine animals.