Irrawaddy Dolphin Carcass Washes Ashore at Pentha Beach

Kendrapada district witnessed a tragic discovery as an endangered Irrawaddy dolphin carcass washed ashore at Pentha beach within the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.

The dolphin, measuring nearly 6 feet 2 inches, is believed to have died at sea several days earlier before drifting ashore.

Local residents spotted the carcass and alerted forest officials, who recovered it for examination.

Authorities are investigating the cause of death, which remains unknown.

The Irrawaddy dolphin is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Wildlife experts emphasise that these dolphins are among the most threatened cetaceans in coastal, estuarine, and riverine ecosystems of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia, making this incident a serious conservation concern.