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A dead common dolphin on the beach at Par (Image: James Street)
Experts have recorded 30 dead dolphins and porpoises which have been washed up on Cornwall’s coastline in January alone.
It includes two recent dead animals washed up on the beaches at Par and Porthtowan. Another dolphin was stranded and died on the Rame peninsula at the weekend.
Ruth Williams, the marine conservation manager with the Marine Stranding Network, said the figures were shocking but not unprecedented.
She said the network, which is run by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, recorded a total of 170 similar deaths last year and 250 in 2017.
“We do get a lot of reports of strandings at this time of year but these figures for January are pretty average,” she added.
“This year we are seeing huge numbers of live animals close to shore, which may increase the risk of harm or increase the number of sightings.”
A common dolphin washed ashore at Porthtowan beach (Image: Cornwall Wildlife Trust)
The dolphin discovered at Porthtowan on Sunday was a young male common dolphin. It was found to be malnourished and has been removed to be examined and establish a cause of death.
Meanwhile another male common dolphin was washed ashore at Par on Saturday. That animal has been tagged but left in place.
Last week, paddle boarders near Kingsand Beach found another dead dolphin. It is believed that the mammal could have accidentally stranded itself by coming too close to the shore at Millbrook.
Earlier, Rame Peninsula Beach Care group revealed how a large group of villagers watched on as a pod of dolphins came dangerously close to the dam.
Dolphins in the sea have been sighted regularly this month, including between Falmouth and St Mawes as well as drone footage up at Plymouth Sound.
he National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth has shed light on the recent surge in dolphin activity.
In a blog post, the NMA wrote: “Recently research into marine mammal migrations has shown that warm water species, such as the short-beaked common dolphin, have been extending their range further north.
“This could be a result of climate change with the waters around the British Isles getting warmer or a shift in warm water currents.
“It is possible that higher temperatures and warmer waters have attracted these dolphins and created the conditions for plankton fronts to develop. These would have encouraged fish, whales and dolphins to gather following their food.
Courtesy of cornwalllive.com
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