Two porpoise carcasses found on separate Hong Kong shores, bringing number of cases this year to 15 – an alarming trend, green groups warn
- Cause of deaths remains unclear, while inconclusive population data makes it hard for experts to analyse statistics
- Most cases record blunt force trauma to marine mammal, indicating collisions with vessels, but lack of other related injuries lends little weight to theory
Two porpoise carcasses were found on separate Hong Kong shores on Sunday, bringing the total number of stranded cases involving the marine animal to 15 this year – a figure that was alarming, conservationists warned.
The severely decomposed bodies of an adult male and male calf, measuring 1.66 metres and 1.36 metres respectively, were found in Tap Mun and Sai Kung, with the latter having a 34cm wound on its abdomen. Both belong to the finless porpoise species.
The incidents were reported to the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, which helps the government respond to and investigate all stranded cetacean cases.
“The causes of death are yet to be determined,” a foundation spokesman said. “[The foundation] has transported the carcasses to Ocean Park for further necropsy.”
The 13 cases in January marked the highest tally for a single month since the group began handling such cases in 2006.
