Locals recovered a dead gigantic dolphin on the beach at Shahpari Island in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar on Monday. The dolphin was found floating on the beach and it bore several wounds.
On Monday morning, people flocked to see the dolphin in the sea on the western side of Shahpari Island in Teknaf. However, the authorities of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute call it humpback dolphin.
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute Cox's Bazar office senior scientific officer Ehsanul Karim said it is known as the Indo-Pacific Bottle Nose (Humpback) Dolphin.
These species move in groups. It is believed that the dolphin came close to Teknaf beach in search of food and died of because of injuries it bore.
He said the fish, which is 9-10 feet high, can weigh 160 kg. These fish are mainly found in the tropical waters of India and the western Pacific. However, unlike most common bottled dolphins, these dolphins prefer shallow, coastal waters. As a result, it is not uncommon to see this fish in the surrounding area.
M Ibrahim Khalil Mamun, chief executive of the Youth Environment Society (YES), an environmental organisation in Cox's Bazar, said dolphins were not supposed to die at this time.
Maybe the dolphin died because of water pollution or maybe it was stuck on fishermen nets, resulting injuries. To protect these dolphins, fishermen need to be aware and reduce water pollution.
Nurul Amin, a member of Ward 8 of Shahpari Island Union Parishad in Teknaf, said a huge species of dead dolphin had floated on the beach in his area. Many people also call it whale fish.
At this time the fishermen stopped fishing in the sea. But it is difficult to say how the fish died. However, there are signs of injury in some parts of the fish.
Teknaf Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Delwar Hossain said, “I have heard about the dead body of a dolphin. Necessary steps are being taken in this regard.”