The baby dolphin apparently drowned after becoming entangled in the anchor line of buoy in Ling Bay at Koh Phi Phi Don. It was spotted by the crew of a passing ferry, who brought it on board and took it to Phuket, where the PMBC picked it up.
The PMBC team recognised the young dolphin from scars they had observed when the animal was first brought to them on November 15, after being found washed up at Karon, suffering from exhaustion.
An autopsy was carried out yesterday which confirmed the 15-kilo animal had drowned.
Ironically, just five days ago (December 13), a temporary working team was set up to study this particular baby dolphin and to work out ways to feed and protect it.
The team would have involved PMBC Marine Endangered Species Unit chief, Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong; vet Patcharapon Kaewmong; fisheries academic Paothep Cherdsukjai; Dr Nantrika Chansue from Chulalongkorn University; Mark Trimm from American conservation group Ocean Embassy; and Dr Chris Torno from Resorts World Sentosa in the Philippines.
The team has now disbanded.