Stranded dolphin dies


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04 January 2013 | last updated at 12:34AM

By OLIVIA MIWIL | news@nst.com.my 

INTERNAL INJURIES: Mammal could not be saved despite efforts

KOTA KINABALU: THE dolphin which was found stranded on Pulau Gandang in Tuaran near here on Dec 26 has died on New Year's Eve at the Borneo Marine Research Institute of Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
The institute's director, Prof Dr Saleem Mustafa, said despite efforts to keep it alive, the mammal could not be saved.
Earlier, the seven-year-old spinner dolphin of the Stenella longirostris species was reported to have been stabilised and was able to eat and spray water from its blowhole.
"There were signs of bacterial infection on its fin and inflammation on the lateral side of itsbody.
"The Sabah Wildlife Department veterinarians had administered antibiotics to the dolphin, while scientists from our institute had isolated the bacteria and conducted a detailed study on the bacteria's nature."
Saleem said despite the dolphin's improvement, the institute was sceptical that the mammal was going to survive.
"We are now waiting for a post-mortem report from Sabah Wildlife Department personnel who treated the dolphin."
The department's senior veterinarian, Dr Sen Nathan, said the possible cause of death was internal injuries.

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