Finless porpoise dies on Orissa coast due to polythene intake 

KalingaTimes Correspondent

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Bhubaneswar: A black finless porpoise, the carcass of which was found on the Orissa coast at Puri five days ago, died due to intake of polythene materials, according to the Chilika Development Authority.

Dolphin researchers from the CDA went to the spot to examine the carcass after reports appeared in local daily newspapers that a dead Irrawaddy dolphin was recovered by the Wildlife officials from Baliapanda beach of Puri.

However, on examination it was found to be an adult individual of black finless porpoise that belong to the same family as whale and dolphins.

`From analysis of the gut contents of the carcass, it was ascertained that cause of death was due to intake of polythene materials that blocked from gullet to stomach. Perhaps the animal could not feed and breathe and succumbed to death due to anorexia or fasting,' the CDA authorities said.

According to CDA, the black finless porpoise resembles closely with Irrawaddy dolphins but it does not have a dorsal fin and the average size is about half of adult Irrawaddy dolphin. The colouration of the porpoise is dark grey while the lips and chins are light pink in colour. The average size of adult porpoise is about 1.5 m and the average weight is about 30 to 40 kg. The porpoise feeds on squids, shrimps and small fishes and inhabit inshore coastal water estuaries in India.

`The lesson learnt from this incident is that disposing of polythene materials in and around aquatic habitat (freshwater, brackish water and marine) is not only polluting the habitats but also very harmful to the aquatic life in general,' CDA authorities said.

Observing that awareness on environmental friendly disposal of polythene materials was highly essential in and around aquatic habitats of Orissa and particularly in Chilika lagoon to prevent such in incidents in future, the CDA authorities urged the people to preserve the sanctity of the habitats by adopting proper methods for disposal of polythene materials as well as the tetra packs to save aquatic life.

http://www.kalingatimes.com/orissa_news/news/20070309_Porpoise_dies_on_Orissa_coast.htm

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