Dolphin head a sick souvenir

Authorities believe someone may be responsible for the beheading of this female bottlenose dolphin that washed ashore at Green Point Cove.

Daily Examiner

HOW did a mature female bottlenose dolphin found on the rocks at Green Point Cove, north of Angourie, lose its head?

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is calling for help from the public to answer this question.

The 2.6 metre dolphin was first reported to NPWS more than a week ago, when a resident did the right thing and alerted authorities of its death and location.

Back then the body of the dolphin was intact, but yesterday NPWS received news that the dolphin was now missing its head.

Lawrence Orel from NPWS said there was a chance someone had chopped off the mammal's head to secure its skull as a souvenir.

He said a similar incident happened at Ballina two to three years ago.

“It's important for people to remember that even though the animal is dead, it is protected by law so people can't souvenir them,” Mr Orel said.

“It is an offence to harm or kill or remove dead animal or body parts such as the head or teeth.”

Under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, fines of up to $11,000 and/or two years in jail can apply.

Another scenario NPWS was considering yesterday was that the dolphin's head 'rotted off' or was taken by a shark.

“But usually if a shark had attacked it there would be bite marks,” Mr Orel said.

Because Green Point Cove is hard to access, NPWS said it would leave the dolphin where it was and let nature take its course.

Anyone with information should call NPWS on 6641 1500 or the Police on 6642 0222.

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