Photos: Dolphin washes ashore at Dahanu beach, again

Wildlife Conservation And Animal Welfare Association members and forest officials are probing the cause behind the dolphin's death

In perhaps the third incident this year of a mammal being washed ashore, the carcass of a dolphin was recovered by a group of wildlife conservationist at Dahanu beach this week.

Dhaval Kansara, Wildlife Conservation And Animal Welfare Association (WCAWA) founder, received a call from some locals on Monday evening about a dolphin that had washed ashore at Parnaka beach. Speaking to mid-day, he said, "Along with seven WCAWA members and some Dahanu Forest Department officials, we rushed to the spot around 6 pm. The slightly decomposed body was brought to the forest department office."

The dolphin washed ashore at Parnaka beach

The honorary wildlife warden of Palghat district added, "Over the years, incidents of dead marine creatures washing ashore have increased. Sea pollution is one of the major reasons behind the sudden spurt of deaths. There's an urgent need to create awareness among fishermen as well as the masses about reducing sea pollution."

Last year, five dolphins had washed ashore at Dahanu. Nanasaheb Ladkat, deputy conservator of the forest (Dahanu) said, "After bringing the dolphin's carcass to our office, we conducted a panchnama to decipher how the mammal died. We are awaiting reports."

The dead dolphin that washed ashore at Nariman Point on January 1 this year

He added that in the last five weeks, the number of beaching incidents of marine animals have increased on the west coast of Mumbai, between south Mumbai and Dahanu. In the last three weeks, around 15 Olive Ridley turtles and two green sea turtles were rescued between Girgaum chowpatty and Dahanu.