Dolphins Seen Carrying Dead Calves Off South Korea’s Jeju Island Raise Concern

A rare and concerning sighting off the coast of Jeju Island, South Korea, has environmental activists worried about the health of the local dolphin population. Two Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins were observed carrying their deceased calves, a behavior described as unusual and indicative of distress.

The dolphins were spotted on July 8 near the island's northeastern coast. According to Oh Seung-mok, director of Docu Jeju, the calves showed different stages of decomposition, suggesting they may have died several days apart. Both calves were estimated to be less than a year old. Oh noted that the dolphins, believed to be from the same pod, have been observed moving more slowly than usual in the area.

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Carrying a decomposing calf can be compared to a human funeral rather than simply transporting a body.

While no immediate threats such as fishing lines or marine debris were found near the dolphins, the cause of their deaths remains unknown. Environmental activists are urging for closer monitoring of the situation, suggesting that potential changes in human activities and the marine environment around Jeju could be affecting the dolphins' habitat and survival rates.

Approximately 120 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins are estimated to inhabit the waters around Jeju. The recent deaths bring the total number of calf fatalities recorded this year to four, a significant increase compared to the five calf deaths recorded throughout all of last year. This trend has heightened concerns among conservationists about the vulnerability of young dolphins in the region.

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Recent observations show that dolphins believed to belong to the same group have been moving more slowly than usual in nearby waters.