Sunday, October 30, 2005

Investigation on dolphin stabbing defended

WILDLIFE officers have defended the vigour of their investigation into the death of a Port Phillip Bay dolphin found with seven stab wounds.

This is despite a fisherman voluntarily admitting to Department of Sustainability staff that he had stabbed the dolphin after finding it already dead and floating in water off Geelong in September.


Pathology reports have failed to discover why the otherwise healthy female bottlenose died. But an autopsy by a specialist veterinary pathologist has ruled out the possibility the dolphin died of stab wounds.

The fisherman claimed to have found the dead dolphin and stabbed it to make it sink to reduce any danger to boats.

DSE spokesman Ron Waters said yesterday there would have been public outrage if wildlife officers had not vigorously investigated.

Quick "Facts about Dolphins"