Rescued dolphin doesn’t make it

PHUKET: The young dolphin thought to be on the path to recovery early last week, after being rescued from Mai Khao Beach, died on Saturday.

The one-year-old female Spinner dolphin was taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) Endangered Species Unit (ESU) on September 27.

She received care 24 hours a day by PMBC staff, said Dr Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a PMBC veterinarian.

“After 22 days of treatment, the dolphin, which suffered from internal infections and weak muscles, passed away,” she said.

“We will examine her body to determine what kind of infection killed her,” she added.

Though the young dolphin did not survive, all 50 turtles at the PMBC facility are doing well, Dr Patcharaporn told the Phuket Gazette yesterday.

“There are 30 of them that have a chance of returning to the sea once they have fully recovered. However, a lot of them may have difficulties returning to the wild,” Dr Patcharaporn said.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong