The bodies of five cetaceans were found across Hong Kong over Chinese New Year, marking a spike in deaths compared to recent figures, researchers say.
According to a Facebook post by the Cetacean Virtopsy Lab, the dead marine mammals included one Chinese white dolphin and four finless porpoises.
The center told Coconuts HK that from 2015 to 2017, the average number of dead dolphins and porpoises found each year from January to February was three to four.
However, more than 10 cetacean carcasses have been recovered within the same period this year, with finless porpoises making up the majority of cetaceans found.
The Chinese White Dolphin was found on Saturday — the second day of Chinese New Year — and, at 2.5 meters long, was considered to be one of the largest carcasses to have had a virtopsy carried out at the center so far.
According to the post, 10 people were needed to carry the body onto the CT machine for the scan.
After the virtopsy, the team concluded that the dolphin was a 20-year-old female and they found signs of choking, multiple bone fractures, and atlanto-occipital dislocation — a spinal injury.
Another post by the centre yesterday confirmed that four finless porpoises were found on Sunday and Monday.
Of the four porpoises, one was almost chopped into two parts by a propeller, while the other three were found with multiple fractures on various parts of the body, as well spinal injuries.
The Cetacean Virtopsy Lab confirmed to Coconuts HK that the finless porpoises found included a 0.97-meter-long juvenile porpoise found in Ham Tin Wan in Sai Kung with three visible wounds; a juvenile female about 1.42 meters long found with moderate body decay on Tai Long Wan in Lantau; a 1.4 meter-long female adult porpoise found in the sea off Silverstrand Beach also in Sai Kung; and a 1.31-meter-long female found yesterday near the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology pier.
All four bodies were sent to the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation for further investigation.
The Cetacean Virtopsy Lab is a joint project between the OPCF and the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department.
While the deaths of Chinese White Dolphins often attract attention given the creature’s threatened status, finless porpoises were often overlooked, lamented a spokesperson from the laboratory.
“[The finless porpoise] is always the long forgotten one in our waters,” they said, via message.
“They live here but no one really cares or even knows much… [about their] appearance, and their presence”
For those of you who want to see a porpoise that fortunately isn’t dead, check out this recent clip of fisherman in Hong Kong saving a baby porpoise stuck in a fishing net.
Those who have seen a stranded cetacean are encouraged to call 1823, a hotline service operated by the Hong Kong government.
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