A young adult female Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis), beached in Plettenberg Bay, in the Western Cape, on Friday.
Researchers did a necropsy to know her better.
Dr Gwen Penry, a locally -based experienced cetacean biologist, found the dolphin had a very thin blubber layer, which suggests she was hungry.
Sadly, a fetus was found inside her.
Dr Penry believes this may have been her first pregnancy.
“Pregnancy-related complications are one possible explanation for her death, but the exact cause cannot be confirmed” she confirmed.
She took samples of her measurements, photographs, and biological samples including tissue from her lungs, liver, kidneys, muscle, and blubber, as well as stomach contents, skull, and ribs.
These are expected to support further research, including genetic and toxicological analyses, to provide a broader picture of happenings along that coastline.
The samples were sent to Bayworld in Gqeberha, where they will be curated by Dr Greg Hofmeyr and his team.
Picture: Supplied