A dead Irrawaddy dolphin was found washed ashore in a decomposed state at Guliakhali Beach in Sitakunda, Chattogram on Wednesday.
According to the Forest Department, local residents first noticed the carcass lying on the beach around 5pm and immediately informed authorities. Later that evening, officials from the Sitakunda Coastal Forest Range recovered the body.
“The dolphin, about five feet long, was already decomposing when we arrived,” said Sitakunda Coastal Forest Range Officer Roni Ali. “Its body had begun to rot, emitting a strong odor. Locals believe it was washed ashore with the early morning tide.”
To prevent environmental contamination, forest officials—with the help of local volunteers—buried the carcass near the beach.
The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is a rare and vulnerable species capable of surviving in both freshwater and saltwater environments. It is typically found in coastal waters, estuaries, and river mouths across Southeast Asia and the Bay of Bengal.
In Bangladesh, the species is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012, which prohibits its capture or harm.
