Dead Young Dolphin Found Washed Up On Nahant Beach

BOSTON, MA — This weekend some folks walking along Nahant Beach found the body of a juvenile, white-sided dolphin washed ashore.

"This find is unusual and unfortunate but not entirely unexpected," said the New England Aquarium in a statement.

You can learn a lot about the status of local dolphins by a single body washed ashore and experts at the Aquarium say this helps folks know that there are dolphins in the area.

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Many New Englanders may associate bottlenose dolphins with tropical environments like they see on TV or film and are unaware that there can be hundreds of dolphins within 40 miles of most coastal communities in metro Boston much of the year, say officials at the aquarium.

More than six species of dolphins frequent New England waters, but two species predominate here on a year round basis - the common dolphin and the larger white-sided species, like the one found Sunday.

Less than 20 miles east of Nahant at the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, white-sided dolphins have been seen regularly during the past month by whale watch passengers. Small pods of white-sideds have been spotted among the large humpback, finback and sei whales that have been feeding on schooling fish there.

The Nahant white-sided at five feet in length is shorter than most adults of her species, which are normally eight to nine feet long and live to be 22 to 27 years old.

Wildlife experts estimate that this one was probably born last summer and was still most likely dependent upon its mother.

The carcass was first collected by DCR officials and turned over to New England Aquarium staff. An animal autopsy has yet to be done by Aquarium biologists, but there were no obvious external signs of entanglement or trauma.

The dolphin appears to be of an acceptable weight. The most likely causes of death for a dolphin this young are separation from her mother, her mother’s death or underlying disease.

"Although sad, this young dolphin is evidence of the magnificent marine ecosystem that we quite literally have at the region’s front door. Ocean wildlife is a challenge to see, but the New England Aquarium encourages everyone to get out and explore and do what you can do protect it," said Tony LaCasse of the New England Aquarium.

Previously:

Boston's New England Aquarium Saves 14 Endangered Sea Turtles

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Photo: Courtesy New England Aquarium in Boston