Pod of dolphins die within 24 hours after stranding at Albany's Princess Royal Harbour
A pod of 12 pantropical spotted dolphins died after stranding themselves in Albany, Western Australia. Despite efforts by the public to refloat them, the animals re-stranded and were eventually euthanized or found dead.
Why it matters
The mass stranding of a tropical species in cooler southern waters is considered unusual and highlights potential ecological shifts or environmental stressors.
A dolphin believed to be the 12th in a pod found dead on the rocks at Royal Princess Harbour in Albany. ( ABC Great Southern: Astrid Volzke )
A pod of pantropical spotted dolphins were found stranded on a beach in Albany on Tuesday afternoon.
One dolphin died while the others were refloated back to deeper waters.
However, the remaining pod re-stranded on Wednesday morning and all have since died.
Link copied Share Share article Twelve pantropical spotted dolphins have died over 24 hours in Western Australia's Princess Royal Harbour in Albany.
The dolphin carcasses were reported on Wednesday by Parks and Wildlife officers to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
A DBCA spokesperson has confirmed the dolphins were first observed as a pod of 12 which appeared stranded in the shallows at the Albany Waterfront Marina on Tuesday morning.
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