SONGKHLA: The carcass of a bottlenose dolphin was washed up in Songkhla's Muang district late Sunday, local officials said.
The marine mammal was found at 5pm near Chalathat beach, Samira cape, and was brought ashore for an initial examination, said Santi Nilawat, of the Songkhla-based marine and coastal resources research and development centre.
According to Mr Santi, the dolphin appeared to have been dead for several days. Small plastic ropes were seen among its intestines which had burst open.
The 1.5m-long dolphin was estimated to be one-year-old. However, the animal's sex could not be determined and officials would have to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of its death.
He said that due to strong winds and high waves, it was not uncommon for ill or weak marine animals to be washed ashore.
Bottlenose dolphins and humpback dolphins are found in the Gulf and Songkhla Lake.
The bottlenose dolphin is not an endangered species but some specific populations are threatened due to various climate change, according to environmentalists.
