Panaji: A dead humpback dolphin calf was seen floating barely 500 m from Sinquerim beach, adding to the tally of marine stranding cases in recent years along Goa’s coastline.Its carcass has not landed ashore since Saturday evening, sources said.Boat operators saw the dead mammal, and one of them shot a video showing a pod of dolphins following the calf as it drifted towards the shore. A mother dolphin stays around the calf for a few days after the calf dies in an act of mourning, eventually returning to the spot of its death.The forest department was informed about the carcass. “The dolphin babies are always seen with their family,” said Savio D’Souza, a boat operator.A rescue attempt was not made as the calf had its mouth open, indicating its death, according to the boat operator.On Oct 2, a striped dolphin was found dead at Miramar after people walking on the beach informed lifeguards on duty.Till mid-year, 15 dolphins – mostly carcasses rather than live strandings – had washed ashore along Goa’s coastline.
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