KUALA PERLIS, Sept 9 — People living around Kuala Perlis have been catching glimpses of dolphins in the waters or stumbling on the marine mammals that are stranded on the beach recently.
According to state Fisheries Department director Ismail Ibrahim, this is not unusual as dolphins would normally make a stop in the Kuala Perlis waters before travelling to the Indian Ocean.
“Marine mammals such as dolphins and whales stop here (Kuala Perlis) every September probably because of the food such as fish,” he told Bernama here today.
Ismail was asked to comment on recent incidents where fishermen were reported to have rescued stranded dolphins in Kampung Sungai Baru.
He said among the species of marine mammals that have been spotted in the Kuala Perlis waters are the Irrawaddy dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins as well as whale sharks.
He said the department had received two reports from fishermen who have helped in rescuing two Irrawaddy dolphins (Sept 3) and a Bottlenose dolphin (Sept 7), adding that on Sept 6 it also received a report regarding the discovery of a dolphin carcass.
Ismail thanked the fishermen for their efforts in rescuing the stranded dolphins.
“We are planning to conduct a dolphin rescue simulation exercise for fishermen to teach them the correct method of rescuing and treating the marine mammals before they are released back into deeper waters,” he said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency