In late January of this year, Marine Connection reported about the death of a solitary female common dolphin named Sandy who had lived around Eckerförder Bay, Germany for approximately a year before being discovered dead on the ocean floor. Autopsy results have revealed that the dolphin, who was approximately six years of age, died of severe pneumonia.
The extensive investigations showed that despite the unchanged behaviour that was observed in the days before her death, Sandy suffered from considerable health impairments, particularly of the lungs, which most likely led to her natural death, such a pity for a young dolphin.
Marine Connection has been monitoring the phenomenon of solitary dolphins and whales for many years, working with relevant authorities/members of the local public to develop tailored action plans for each individual solitary cetacean that appear in an area, which is vital in affording them greater protection in both the short and long term, to prevent injury or death.
Learn more about our solitary cetacean conservation work here
