Pod of Common Bottlenose Dolphins found dead near Wilpattu

The Wildlife Department today confirmed that a pod of Common Bottlenose Dolphins was found dead on the sea border of the Wilpattu National Park.

They said the pod was found dead near the Kollan Kanaththa area, close to the National Park. The information was received by wildlife officers attached to the Mollikulama Wildlife Security Office.

Investigations conducted by the wildlife officers resulted in a report being handed over to the Puttalam Magistrate yesterday (7). The wildlife officers confirmed that 11 dolphins had died in the area.

Wildlife veterinarians Chandana Jayasinghe and W.L.U. Madhuwanthi from the Anuradhapura Wildlife Veterinary Office conducted the post-mortem examinations on the animals.

The veterinarians suspect that the dolphins had died after being entangled in a net. Additionally, samples taken from the animals have been sent to the Peradeniya Veterinary Faculty, and the report is awaited.