![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mother-and-calf-dolphin-swimming-by-XZSY2TADTFHGXHECSHNU5G76XM.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA decapitated dolphin has been found on a Coromandel beach, prompting a call for information. <\/p>\n
Department of Conservation principal investigation officer Hayden Loper said the dead animal was found on a Pauanui beach on Monday, September 7. <\/p>\n
“Although the animal had begun to decompose, initial assessment suggests the animal\u2019s head has been removed with some sort of tool or implement,” a DOC spokesperson said. <\/p>\n
“It\u2019s thought the decapitation occurred before the animal washed up on the beach.” <\/p>\n
The department’s marine scientists believed the animal could be a bottlenose dolphin \u2013 a vulnerable marine mammal protected by law. <\/p>\n
They took a sample from the remains and sent it for genetic testing to confirm the species. <\/p>\n
Loper urged anyone who saw what happened to the dolphin to come forward.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Image of bottlenose dolphins. (Source: istock.com)<\/p>\n
\u201cPauanui is a small but busy settlement with a popular beach, so we\u2019re hopeful someone can provide us with information which may lead us to whoever is responsible.<\/p>\n
“DOC staff are interested in information such as descriptions of people or vehicles\/vessels, as well as times and locations of any behaviour potentially connected to the decapitation of the animal.” <\/p>\n
It is a crime to harass, disturb, injure or kill marine mammals in New Zealand. Those charged with doing so face up to two years’ in prison or a fine of up to $250,000.<\/p>\n
New Zealand’s waters have an estimated population of between 1000 and 5000 bottlenose dolphins. They are spread across the north-east North Island, Fiordland, and northern South Island. <\/p>\n
Their biggest threats are the adverse effects of tourism and boat strike. They are a focus of dolphin watching in the Bay of Islands and Fiordland areas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A decapitated dolphin has been found on a Coromandel beach, prompting a call for information. Department of Conservation…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":595735,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[50,1389,67,9001,111,43,139,69],"class_list":["post-595734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-zealand","tag-animals","tag-conservation","tag-crime-and-justice","tag-hamilton-waikato","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=595734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595734\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/595735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=595734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=595734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=595734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}