KOZHIKODE : In a sobering reminder of the escalating anthropogenic threats to marine ecosystems along the Malabar Coast, two dolphin carcasses washed ashore on different stretches of Kozhikode Beach on Saturday morning. The incidents, which occurred amid the volatile sea state of the Southwest Monsoon, have sparked intense concern among oceanographers and marine conservationists over the impact of marine debris on local cetacean populations.

The Stranding Incidents at Mukhadar and General Hospital Beaches

The carcasses were discovered by local coastal residents during early dawn patrols.
Mukhadar Beach: A massive adult specimen weighing approximately 200 kg was found beached.

General Hospital Beachfront: A younger, smaller dolphin weighing roughly 50 kg was discovered less than a kilometer away.
A joint response team consisting of the Kozhikode Corporation Health Department and the Kerala Forest Department quickly cordoned off the sites. An on-site post-mortem examination was conducted under the direction of Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. K.M. Manoj Lal to ascertain the precise etiologies of the deaths.

Autopsy Findings: The Lethal Impact of "Ghost Nets". The autopsy of the 200 kg adult dolphin provided definitive evidence of marine plastic entanglement. Veterinary surgeons extracted approximately 2 kg of discarded plastic fishing net remnants impacted deep within the animal's digestive tract.

"The synthetic net fragments had become heavily wedged inside the dolphin's esophagus, creating a complete mechanical obstruction," explained Dr. Manoj Lal. "This prevented the animal from ingesting food, ultimately leading to severe emaciation and a slow death by starvation."

While the carcass of the larger dolphin showed clear signs of mortality induced by plastic pollution, the cause of death for the 50 kg juvenile remains inconclusive due to initial tissue degradation. Both marine mammals have been identified as **Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins** (*Sousa chinensis*), a species protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act.

Oceanographic Perspective: Monsoon Drifts and Acoustic Disruptions
According to oceanographic data tracked by Metbeat Weather, marine mammal strandings historically spike along the southwestern coast of India between June and August. This seasonal phenomenon is driven by two primary oceanographic factors:

Ekman Transport and Onshore Monsoon Winds

During the Southwest Monsoon, persistent and strong westerly to south-westerly winds blow directly toward the Kerala coast. This generates strong onshore surface currents and heavy wave action (monsoon drift). Carcasses of marine animals that die far out at sea, which would normally sink or drift into the open ocean during other seasons, are systematically pushed toward the shoreline by these prevailing hydrographic forces.

Acoustic Masking in Rough Seas

The Arabian Sea experiences intense ambient noise pollution during the monsoon due to turbulent wave breaking, heavy precipitation, and increased commercial shipping traffic. Dolphins rely heavily on echolocation for navigation, hunting, and cohesion. The heightened underwater acoustic chaos can disorient the mammals, driving them closer to active fishing zones and increasing the risk of lethal interactions with active trawlers or discarded "ghost nets."

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has previously noted that while rising stranding reports are partly due to increased civic awareness among coastal communities, the intersection of heavy monsoonal fishing and marine plastic pollution remains a critical threat vector to the regional dolphin population. Following the protocols, both carcasses were scientifically cremated and buried on the beach by environmental officials.

Keywords: Kozhikode beach dolphin death, Metbeat News Kerala weather, marine mammal stranding Kerala, monsoon drift currents Arabian Sea, ghost nets plastic pollution marine life, CMFRI dolphin conservation.