Dead dolphin recovered from Halda River in Chattogram

This brings the total number of dead dolphins found this year to three

A dead dolphin has been recovered from the Katakhali canal of the Halda River in Chattogram, bringing this year’s death toll to three.

Locals spotted the dolphin floating in the Hathazari area of the canal around 2pm on Monday. Upon receiving the information, a river police team took a speedboat to the location and recovered its body.

Md Manzoorul Kibria, coordinator of the Halda River Research Laboratory of Chattogram University and professor of the university's Zoology department, told bdnews24.com: “The dead dolphin is 46 inches long and weighs about 37 kg. It has been buried due to decomposition.

“From its condition, the dolphin appears to have died after being caught in a net. Its beak was severed as a result.”

A total of 46 dolphin bodies have been found in the Halda River in the past six years, he added.

Earlier, on Feb 12, a dead dolphin was found in the Kagotia canal of Chattogram’s Raozan Upazila.

Before that, another was recovered from the Halda River in Raozan on Feb 5.

In 2024, a total of four dead dolphins were found in the Halda.

The Halda River is a crucial natural breeding ground for carp in South Asia and a vital habitat for freshwater dolphins in Bangladesh.

Dolphins once also frequented the Karnaphuli River, but their numbers have declined significantly due to pollution.