The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement on Saturday that it received a report from a resident earlier that day that an animal’s carcass was lying on Hac Sa Beach in Coloane, which was preliminarily identified by an IAM veterinarian as a finless porpoise.
Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals and although being similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals and belugas than to the true dolphins.
After receiving the report, according to the statement, IAM staff were sent to the scene for follow-up action. The statement added that upon examination and preliminary measurement of the dead cetacean, it was classified as a sub-adult finless porpoise with a body length of 1.4 metres.
The statement pointed out that the skull of the finless porpoise was exposed, and most of the skin on its body surface had fallen off due to decay, indicating that it had been dead before it was washed ashore.
Due to the decomposition of the body, the statement said, the bureau cremated the carcass, based on public hygiene considerations.
The statement urged the public to call the Municipal Affairs Bureau on 2833 7676 if they see a stranded dolphin.
This handout provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) on Friday shows one of its staff members inspecting the finless porpoise’s carcass on Hac Sa Beach on that day.
