SFC analysing dolphin carcass found at Lundu resort

KUCHING (May 24): The dolphin carcass discovered at the beachfront of a resort in Lundu yesterday is now at Gunung Gading National Park for further analysis.

Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) head of Flora and Fauna and Forensic and Genetic Resource Bank Azroie Denel confirmed this in a Facebook post today.

He said an SFC team rushed from Teluk Melano to the national park yesterday afternoon to oversee the investigation.

“SFC would like to thank the public for their vigilance in reporting this incident, which is crucial for marine conservation efforts.

“Public cooperation is highly appreciated to ensure the sustainability of marine life in Sarawak,” he said.

SFC is the custodian of national parks and wildlife in Sarawak.

All whales, dolphins, and porpoises under the species of Cetacea in Sarawak come under the first Schedule [Section 2(1)] Part I of Totally Protected Animals under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998 (Chapter 26).

The dead juvenile dolphin was found washed up on the beachfront of the Union Yes Retreat and Training Centre @ Siar in Lundu by staff member Fanddy Ahmad Rosli at 2.20pm yesterday.

Andrew Lo, chief executive officer of the Sarawak Bank Employees Union (SBEU), which operates the resort, confirmed the discovery.

He said the retreat staff took the initiative to report the discovery to SFC.

When contacted yesterday, Fanddy said that the dolphin carcass had a wound that could have been caused by a sharp object or coral reef.