The discovery of yet another dead dolphin at Pamban in the Gulf of Mannar on Thursday has raised fresh concerns among environmentalists about habitat disturbances.
This is the sixth endangered marine species washed ashore during the last two weeks along the coast of Mandapam and Pamban in the Gulf of Mannar.
While a dugong dugon and an olive ridley turtle were spotted on the shore at Mandapam on May 1, the carcass of whale was found on Shingle Island a few days later. A dolphin and a stillborn dolphin were found at Kuravar Thoppu a few days ago.
While deep wounds, including internal and external injuries, were seen in the bodies of the rest of the five marine mammals, fishermen and forest personnel noted aberration on the stomach of the dolphin, which was found washed ashore on Thursday. It weighed around 300 kg and was 10 feet long.
Environmentalists have noted that most of the recent deaths of endangered marine animals are being reported along the Pamban pass, a widely acknowledged path for bargers going to the Tuticorin port and the east coast as well as fishing boats. The nature of wounds has indicated that they could have been hit by propellers of vessels. The possibility of a hit by fishing vessels has been ruled out as mechanised boats are keeping off the sea during the 45-day fishing holiday, which is in force since April 15. This means that the animals could have been hit either by bargers or must have owing to external or natural reasons.
Sundarakumar, Wildlife Warden, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (GMMNP) told The Hindu that of late one dolphin death was being reported in the Gulf of Mannar each month . Initial findings had showed that propeller hit could be the reason for the death of some of the dolphins.
