On Tuesday morning, an adult dolphin was found dead on the beach of Nea Irakleia in Chalkidiki.

According to a related announcement by the environmental organization “ARION,” the Central Port Authority of Thessaloniki was notified of the stranding of a dolphin yesterday morning. As stated in their related post, the dolphin was an adult, female common dolphin (Delphinus delphis).

The dolphin had a visible external injury behind its right pectoral fin. The injury was likely caused by a sharp object and may have led to the animal’s death. Additionally, a rope was tied to its caudal fin, according to the environmental organization.

The animal was floating dead in the sea and was brought to the beach of Nea Irakleia in Chalkidiki by Mr. Andreas Nasioudis.

“Common dolphins (which are, however, endangered) are marine mammals that mainly live pelagically and are observed in the wider region of the Northern Aegean. Due to the lack of food, however, they may approach fishing boats, fish farms, or areas where they can find food. We must understand that dolphins do not threaten us and that their home is the marine environment we humans visit,” emphasizes the environmental organization.

It is noted that “ARION” is the coordinator of the Cetacean Stranding Management Team (according to JMD Υ.Π.ΕΝ./ΔΔΦΠΒ/55417/1958_Φ.Ε.Κ. 3376/Β’/19-5-2023), which concerns the “National Network for Monitoring and Managing Strandings of Marine Wildlife Species.”