Rare dolphin found dead in Ormara

Incident marks second death of the species in a short span of time

KARACHI:

A dolphin belonging to a rare Indo-Pacific finless porpoise species—known locally as the Tibi Dolphin— has been found dead in Ormara district of Balochistan.

According to Muhammad Moazzam Khan, technical adviser at WWF, this is the second death of this species in a very short span of time. He said the population of the Indo-Pacific porpoise dolphin has been declining along Pakistan's coastal areas.

In recent days, large pods of dolphins were seen off the coasts of Gwadar and Ganz in Balochistan, showcasing the beauty of marine life. However, the death of this rare porpoise serves as a reminder of the threats facing our marine environment.

He said immediate measures are essential for the protection of coastal ecosystems, to curb irresponsible fishing practices and to reduce marine pollution so that such deaths can be prevented in the future.

The Indo-Pacific finless porpoise is one of eight porpoise species. The species lives in the coastal waters of Asia, especially around Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Bangladesh.

At the western end, their range includes the length of the western coast of India and continues up into the Persian Gulf. On the eastern edge of their range, they are found throughout the Indonesian archipelago and range north to the Taiwan Strait.