Dead dolphins stranded on Pueh Beach

Oct. 4: A species of dolphinThe False Killer WhaleAn adult female was found stranded on Pueh Beach's Youth Camp before her death at about 2 p.m. yesterday.

Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) Wildlife Controller, Senior Director Abu Arabi Aimran said the 3.85 metre long marine mammals with a body circumference of 1.77 metres were previously released back into the sea as a result of rapid action by Malaysian Public Defence Force (APM) Lundu/Sematan District, Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and civilians.

According to him, at around 9 am, SFC received information from local fishermen that the animals were back stranded on Pueh Beach in poor condition.

"Based on studies of external morphological shapes and tooth counts, marine mammals are identified asFalse Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens)adult women", she said in a statement today.

Brother Arabi said the SFC then carried out standard operating procedures for stranded marine animals as well as autopsy examinations of the carcasses regarding the involvement of nine SFC staff and six villagers from Pueh.

"The results showed that the shark bite was very effective on the body of the animal, while the stomach contents were minimal and mixed with sand.

"The situation suggests that the animals may not have been able to get enough food before they were stranded", he said.

He said, based on the autopsy findings, the deaths of the animals are believed to be related to complications from stranded incidents, including possible failure of the circulatory system due to heat pressure (Heat stroke).

He said biometric specimens were also taken for a DNA database as future reference.

Brother Arabi said all marine mammal species including dolphins, whales and prawns are classified as fully protected under the Wildlife Protection Order 1998.

He also urged the public not to handle stranded, injured or dead wildlife on their own, but instead immediately report the incident to SFC in order to allow appropriate rescue, inspection and management measures to be implemented.

According to him, the speciesThe False Killer WhaleIt was recorded washed up on Miri beach in 2013.