Twelve dolphins that were stranded on Batu Tumpeng Beach in Bali’s Klungkung regency yesterday have been released back into the ocean while one has died, authorities said, following evacuation efforts which went late into the night.
According to Putu Widiada, an official from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in Klungkung, the dolphins were first sighted yesterday afternoon. Authorities said they might have gotten stranded because of tidal waves, adding that some were found on the sand while others were stranded among the rocks near the shore.
“By midnight, all the dolphins were released [to the ocean],” Widiada said today.
However, one of the stranded dolphins was found dead on Friday morning with severe injuries, and was then evacuated for a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
The rescue mission reportedly involved not only authorities, but also local organizations including Westerlaken Foundation and the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN). A video taken last night showed glimpses of the evacuation effort as it was underway.
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BPBD will be monitoring the site again today to make sure that no more dolphins get stranded in the area, Widiada said.
Editor’s Note: The story has been updated to include information on the death of one of the dolphins.
Read more news and updates from Bali here.
