Mumbai witnessed 32 beaching incidents in 2018

Mumbai: Around 32 incidents of carcass of marine animals washing ashore at Mumbai and adjoining areas have been reported this year. The number is highest among the last three years. The dead marine animals that were stranded include dolphin, porpoise, turtle and whale.  

Furthermore, there have been 88 beaching incidents of marine mammals since 2015. This year, carcass of eight porpoises, thirteen dolphins and ten sea turtles washed ashore across the coasts of Mumbai and adjoining areas. There were also incidents of beaching of blue whale and Dwarf whale in the last two years.

“The increase in number of beaching incidents could also be due to the increased reporting of such incidents. However, in these last two years, we have been able to carry out autopsy for around six carcasses of dolphins. There have also been cases where the carcass washed ashore but then was again washed back into the sea due to high tide,” said Makarand Ghodke, Assistant Conservator of Forest.

A carcass of Dolphin washed ashore at the coasts of Marine Drive on Thursday night. However it later washed back into the sea due to high tide. The Asian Age had earlier reported that autopsy of five carcass of dolphins revealed death due to respiratory ailments. Mangrove Cell officials stated that these deaths from respiratory ailments could be because of the polluted seawater.The reasons found for death of marine mammals across Maharashtra coast are old age and starvation. , loss of navigation due to noise from ship, disease, toxicity and injury from entanglement in fishing gears or ship strikes.

The reasons found for death of marine mammals across Maharashtra coast are old age, starvation, loss of navigation due to noise from ship, disease, toxicity and injury from entanglement in fishing gears or ship strikes.