‘Emaciated’ adult bottlenose dolphin found at Marino Rocks amid spike in call outs to wildlife organisation

A bottlenose dolphin has washed up dead on a beach in Adelaide’s south amid a “concerning” spike in calls about the animals. WARNING: Distressing images

A dead dolphin has washed up at a popular beach south of Adelaide amid a “concerning” spike in calls about the animals to a wildlife organisation.

The adult bottlenose was discovered on Saturday morning near the Marino Rocks Community Cafe.

Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organisation president Aaron Machado said the dolphin appeared “emaciated” and “underweight” but was unsure what had caused its death.

“It’s got lots of bumps and scars,” he said.

A dead bottlenose dolphin was found washed up at a popular beach south of Adelaide on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organisation president Aaron Machado said the dolphin appeared “emaciated” and “underweight”. Picture: Supplied

The dolphin was spotted near Marino Rocks Community Cafe. Picture: Supplied

Mr Machado said there had been a spike in calls to his organisation this year about dead and stranded dolphins across the state.

“There’s quite a few of them washing up at the moment,” Mr Machado said.

“It’s concerning.”

In August last year, Hope, a 14-year-old male dolphin from the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, died.

He was the sixth from the Port River pod to die in about a year.

A study by the South Australian Research and Development Institute, released last June, revealed pollution in the Port River made dolphins susceptible to an illness that limits their hearing and ability to hold their breath, making them more likely to be struck by boats.

In October, six-year-old dolphin Hunter was euthanised.

He had poor vision, a severe bacterial ear infection, infected skin lesions, damaged lungs, an inflamed and bleeding stomach, an inflamed small intestine and was emaciated and starving.

An Environment Department spokesman said the National Parks and Wildlife Service was investigating the dolphin’s death.

“Rangers will head to the beach to retrieve the carcass, which will undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of death,” he said.