Yesterday, a team from the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation (OPCF) examined the carcass of a Chinese white dolphin found in waters near the Hong Kong airport.
The carcass was first spotted floating off of the Brothers, a pair of islands to the northeast of the Hong Kong International Airport.
The team was unable to determine the cause of death since the body was severely decomposed, but samples were collected for further study.
“Unfortunately, we can only confirm the cause of death in less than 10 percent of cases, mainly because most of the carcasses are badly decomposed when discovered,” said Shadow Sin, the assistant manager of scientific projects for OPCF.
It’s the third cetacean stranding case reported this year.
Hong Kong’s Chinese white dolphins, widely known as pink dolphins, are threatened by habitat loss and marine traffic, according to the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society (HKDCS).
HKDCS says that the range of pink dolphins in Hong Kong has “shrunk substantially” since the construction of the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok.
If you ever spot a dead or distressed animal, please immediately call the Hong Kong government hotline at 1823.
Photos: Ocean Park Conservation Foundation
