2nd river dolphin found dead
Submitted by Adam Gallash on Thu, 2009-06-11 20:05
Both have been taken to Murdoch University for forensic tests.
Onlookers said the mother of the dolphin found on Friday appeared distressed and was circling the dead juvenile while displaying protective behaviour.
Swan River Trust officers monitored the calf during the weekend and were able to retrieve its body on Sunday from near railway bridge in Fremantle.
On Monday morning, a Town of Mosman Park ranger reported a dead male dolphin at The Coombe Reserve and helped Swan River Trust staff to transport the body to Murdoch.
The cause of death in both dolphins remains unknown but Murdoch biologist and dolphin researcher Hugh Finn said neither appeared to have external injuries.
Swan River Trust Riverpark manager Chris Mather said there are many factors affecting dolphin health and the small resident community was vulnerable to disease and human impact.
“Dolphins in the river tend to be more vulnerable compared to those in the ocean because of their exposure to a wider range of viral pathogens found in estuaries and increased human impact on the river system,” Mr Mather said.
A group of 25 dolphins live in the Swan River. Researchers say the creatures are suffering because people are encouraging them to move dangerously close to boats for food.
In the past dolphins have been killed by becoming entangled in fishing line or sliced by boat propellers.
Researchers from Murdoch Mr Finn and Michael Calver recorded two deaths from human-related activities last summer in the Swan River.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25606269-2761,00.html
A SECOND bottlenose dolphin has been found dead in the Swan River - just three days after a juvenile was discovered on Friday.
The two male dolphins were found just days apart , one floating near Coombe Reserve on Monday and the other in shallow water at Chidley Point, near Point Walter on Friday.Both have been taken to Murdoch University for forensic tests.
Onlookers said the mother of the dolphin found on Friday appeared distressed and was circling the dead juvenile while displaying protective behaviour.
Swan River Trust officers monitored the calf during the weekend and were able to retrieve its body on Sunday from near railway bridge in Fremantle.
On Monday morning, a Town of Mosman Park ranger reported a dead male dolphin at The Coombe Reserve and helped Swan River Trust staff to transport the body to Murdoch.
The cause of death in both dolphins remains unknown but Murdoch biologist and dolphin researcher Hugh Finn said neither appeared to have external injuries.
Swan River Trust Riverpark manager Chris Mather said there are many factors affecting dolphin health and the small resident community was vulnerable to disease and human impact.
“Dolphins in the river tend to be more vulnerable compared to those in the ocean because of their exposure to a wider range of viral pathogens found in estuaries and increased human impact on the river system,” Mr Mather said.
A group of 25 dolphins live in the Swan River. Researchers say the creatures are suffering because people are encouraging them to move dangerously close to boats for food.
In the past dolphins have been killed by becoming entangled in fishing line or sliced by boat propellers.
Researchers from Murdoch Mr Finn and Michael Calver recorded two deaths from human-related activities last summer in the Swan River.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25606269-2761,00.html
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Salmo
Posts: 913
Date Joined: 15/08/05
Spess spotted a dead dolphin
as we drove out of Freo harbour last Saturday arvo......
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
Would that make it three
Would that make it three dead dolphins Spess?
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roberta
Posts: 2773
Date Joined: 08/07/08
Terrible to see any dolphine die
apparently the ones that died (3) at Under water World at Hilliarys years ago, the lady that looked after them thinks that they were given recreational drugs for a laugh and the three died of heart attacks. I know what I'd like to do with the ar%$#@holes that did that to them. Hanging would be too quick.
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