NWL: Mysterious substance in dolphin"s intestine led to its death off the coast of Great Britain

Giant bottlenose dolphin found dead on British coast: mysterious cause of death of the marine giant

A dead dolphin of impressive size - weighing more than 500 kilograms and 3.3 meters long - was discovered on the coast of Anglesey island in Great Britain. The unusual find was made by a local resident during a regular walk with dogs on the beach. This was reported by the North Wales Live portal.

Specialists determined that the deceased marine mammal was the famous bottlenose dolphin from Cardigan Bay, known to scientists by the names Gandalf and Dewin. Representatives of the Sea Watch Foundation, who participated in the examination, emphasized that this dolphin was one of the largest and most recognizable in its population.

The examination of the remains was conducted by the Marine Environment Monitoring Center (MEM). Biologists found that the dolphin was of a very advanced age - traces of old injuries were found on the body, and the teeth were significantly worn down. Despite the considerable age, Gandalf's overall condition was assessed as good: he was feeding normally and did not suffer from emaciation.

However, an autopsy conducted by specialists from the University of Liverpool revealed an unusual cause of death. A dense blockage of a substance visually resembling grayish-brown clay was found in the animal's intestine. Experts are currently unable to precisely determine the nature of this substance and are awaiting the results of additional laboratory tests.

Bottlenose dolphins are considered among the most intelligent marine inhabitants, possessing a complex social structure and high learning abilities. They can often be seen performing in oceanariums. The death of one of the most well-known representatives of the wild population causes serious concern among ecologists and zoologists, especially considering the mysterious finding in the animal's body that caused its death.