Dead Body of 'Southern Bottlenose Dolphin,' a Marine Protected Species, Found at Jeju Gimnyeong Beach

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] The carcass of a southern bottlenose dolphin, designated as a marine protected species, was found near the rocky shore east of Kimnyeong Beach in Jeju City.

According to the Jeju Coast Guard on the 24th, a report was received at 4:17 PM the previous day about a dolphin carcass near the rocky shore east of Kimnyeong Beach in Jeju City.

The Jeju Police Substation patrol team was dispatched and arrived at the scene around 4:20 PM, where they found a severely decomposed dolphin carcass. However, since it weighed about 150 kg and could not be lifted, the Jeju Rescue Team entered the water and, together with the land patrol team, lifted it ashore around 6:35 PM.

After consulting with Professor Kim Byungyeop of Jeju National University, the patrol team was informed that it was a male southern bottlenose dolphin approximately 280 cm in length, 80 cm in girth, and weighing about 150 kg, estimated to have been deceased for about 20 days.

No signs of illegal capture were found, and the carcass was handed over to local authorities around 6:50 PM.

A Jeju Coast Guard official said, “This is the second southern bottlenose dolphin found in Jeju waters this year,” and added, “Since sea turtles and dolphins are designated as marine protected species in Korea, we ask that if they are found caught in fishing nets during operations or dead along the coast, please report promptly to the Coast Guard.”

Meanwhile, the marine creatures found by the Jeju Coast Guard this year include 26 cases of finless porpoises, 3 cases of whales, and 4 cases of sea turtles.

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil panax33@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.