Uncommon dolphin strands at Dias Beach

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Late on Wednesday afternoon on 21 March, an emergency call was received by S.M.A.R.T. (Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team) about a dolphin stranding at Dias Beach in Mossel Bay.

Volunteers of the organisation rushed to the scene to find that the mammal had already died. The volunteers and members of the public carried the dolphin to the parking area at Dias beach, where the sand was washed from it and the most beautiful dolphin was revealed.

Striped dolphins are slender and have distinctive patterns of blue and white stripes along the body and their bellies are lighter than most other dolphins.

They have fairly long and thin beaks with 45 to 50 small, cone-shaped teeth on each side of the upper jaw and 43 to 49 on each side of the lower jaw.

The dorsal fins are medium-sized and the pectoral fins are short. Adults measure between two and 2.50 metres and the newborns in the range of 90cm to one metre.

The average weight varies from 110 to 140kg. Their main food source is fish but they also like shrimp and octopus. They are active swimmers that perform leaps and love to breach frequently.

They move in fairly large schools about 500-strong. Communication is by clicks and whistles and their lifespan is about 55 to 60 years.

Striped dolphins are mostly found in the tropical waters and they are not endangered. It is uncommon for them to be this far south.

They are an offshore species that feed mostly at night.

According to Dr Greg Hoffmeyer from Bayworld in Port Elizabeth, stranding tends to be in batches of four or so individuals over a few months followed by none again for years. There was last a stranding in the Southern Cape in 2012.

The white belly of the striped dolphin is one of its main characteristics.

This specific stranding at Dias Beach is the second recorded this year. Another was recorded in Port Elizabeth in February.

The public is asked to please be on the lookout for stranding of these magnificent animals.

Contact S.M.A.R.T. immediately at 072 227 4715 if you see them. The reason for the stranding is not yet known. The dolphin was taken to Dr Hoffmeyer for a necropsy.