TWO DOLPHINS have been found dead on Chesil Beach.
They were discovered yesterday and are believed to be Short-beaked common Dolphins.
Wildlife experts are keen to retrieve the carcasses to carry out tests to determine the cause of deaths.
Unfortunately, retrieving them has been difficult as the tide has taken each one back out to sea at different times.
A passer-by from the Weymouth & Portland Marine Litter Project, who regularly litter picks along Chesil Beach, spotted one of the dolphins washed up near the visitor centre.
A spokesperson from the Weymouth & Portland Marine Litter Project said: “We do find a few deceased dolphins, but this was unusual as it was not decomposed, they are usually a bit worse for wear and smell, this one looked like it had died over the weekend.”
The dolphin was reported to the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CIPS) and Dorset Wildlife Trust.
Sarah Hodgson, coastal centres assistant at Dorset Wildlife Trust said: “We were made aware of a deceased dolphin which had washed up on Chesil Beach. From images we have seen it is a Short-beaked common which looked to be quite fresh however without further examination we won’t know why it died. There are many reasons why these animals die ranging from natural causes to a result of human activity such as bycatch from fisheries, entanglement in ghost fishing gear or pollution.
“This was also reported to the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) who collect information about cetacean strandings from all around the country. As it’s very fresh, they are keen to retrieve the carcass so that they can carry out a necropsy to try and find out what factors might have contributed to its death. Unfortunately, it was taken back out to sea by the tide before we could secure it for them to collect.”
If anyone spots dead dolphin in Dorset, it’s really helpful to report it by calling the Wild Chesil Centre on 01305 206191 or the Wild Seas Centre (Kimmeridge) on 01929 481044 or via email: kimmeridge@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk. Alternatively, they can be reported to CSIP directly on 0800 652 0333.
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