Dead dolphin found in Sukkur Barrage

Male Indus dolphin had apparently died two weeks ago

KARACHI: The body of a blind Indus dolphin was found from Gate 51 of Sukkur Barrage, revealed the Sindh wildlife department (SWD) on Monday.

The male dolphin, measuring five and a half feet in length, had died at least 15 days ago.

Talking to The Express Tribune, SWD deputy director Adnan Khan, who is deputed at the Sukkur Indus Dolphin Conservation Unit, revealed that the dolphin had not died at the spot from where the body was found. Instead, he explained, it had floated there after its death.

Khan added that this was the first dead dolphin retrieved this year. “There was no mark visible on the body,” he stated, which suggested that it was a natural death. However, he added, it could not be written off that plastic was the reason for its demise.

He further explained that it was not possible to determine the cause of its death due to the decomposition of the body.

“The dolphin’s body was floating and was seen by some residents of the area,” he said, adding that the SWD team, after being informed, came to the barrage to remove it. SWD officials said that it was necessary to retrieve the body from the barrage as it could otherwise contaminate the water.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2020.