Marine watch along the Marina

CHENNAI: Carcasses of three dolphins and a whale have been washed ashore along Chennai’s coast last week alone. This has doubled the number so far this season. Activists working along the coast say there is little understanding on the cause of death of these mammals, but some of them show signs of injury.“We usually see a large number of these carcasses washing ashore in the season from December to March. But three carcasses in a week is unprecedented. We are not clear on what kills these animals, as there is little research into their lives,” says Supraja Dharini, chairperson of TREE Foundation, a voluntary organisation working for marine wildlife conservation in and around Chennai.Three Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, one Spinner Dolphin, one Risso’s Dolphin and one Tropical Whale were  washed ashore. While six of them were dead and decomposing when they were washed ashore, one Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphin was alive.It had got entangled in a fisherman’s net. On closer inspection, the fishermen realised that it was very weak. So, they informed the activists and Forest Department officials and brought the dolphin close to the shore for resuscitation. But despite the best of their efforts, the mammal died soon.“The problem is, we don’t know where these mammals come from. We don’t know if they are here for the warmer waters or whether they are in pursuit of prey. Only if relevant research is conducted into these things can we think of a way to minimise these casualties,” says Supraja Dharini.