The carcass of Ayeyawady dolphin, an endangered species, was found yesterday floating in the Ayeyawady River in Madaya Township of Mandalay Region.
The dolphin was the biggest one to be found dead in the river, said U Kyaw Hla Thein, a dolphin conservationist with the Wildlife Conservation Society.
The dolphin measured over 7 feet in length and was aged between 30 and 50, according to conservationists.
“We checked its stomach. There are no suspects for its death. The dolphin is believed to have died of old age,” said U Kyaw Hla Thein.
The conservationists found and inspected the carcass after travellers from a watercraft informed them about a dolphin floating in the river.
The carcass was buried near the beach. Its skeleton will be displayed at the dolphin museum.
This was the first dolphin death recorded in 2020.
A survey conducted in 2019 had recorded 26 dolphins between the Mandalay-Kyaukmyaing Conservation Area and about 76 dolphins between Mandalay and Bhamo. —Aung Thant Khaing
(Translated by TTN)