RAJSHAHI, Apr 27: A dead dolphin washed ashore on the banks of the Padma River at Talaimari Fultala Ghat in the district.
Officials of the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Division of the Rajshahi Forest Department found the dead dolphin on the river bank on the west side on Friday.
They initially assumed that the dolphin died at least two days back after being hit by a boat's propeller.
Earlier on Friday morning, Professor Md Alauddin, head of the Physics Department of Rajshahi College, uploaded a picture of the dolphin on his Facebook.
Later on, a team of Forest Department reached the scene at around 5:30 pm after investigating the matter based on sources. The dolphin, which is about three-feet long, is believed to be less than a year old.
Confirming the matter, Borhan Biswas said that there have been previous instances of dolphins getting stuck in nets and dying in Rajshahi, but this is the first time that a dolphin has died after being hit by a propeller.
While there are many records of Irrawaddy dolphins dying after being hit by propellers in the Halda River, such an incident is new in the Padma River.
Wildlife and Nature Conservation Division Inspector Jahangir Kabir said that the dolphin died at least two days before.
It is not in a suitable condition to be taken to the laboratory; so the decision has been made to bury it to avoid environmental and health risks, he added.
