Necropsy conducted on dead dolphin

KAILUA-KONA — A necropsy was conducted to determine the cause of death of a dolphin recovered Monday from Kealakekua Bay.

Tom Elliot, stranding coordinator for the Big Island with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific Island Region Marine Mammal Response Network, said Tuesday that there were no signs of shark bites on the corpse, though there were reports of a shark in the area.

Elliot, one of three volunteers who responded around noon Monday to the report, was unable to say how long the dolphin might have been dead, but noted that the animal’s body was not in “very bad shape” when it was recovered.

Results from the necropsy will take some time, unless there is something “grossly obvious” found to determine cause of death, Elliot said.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said a tourist reported seeing the dolphin Monday in waters at the north end of Napoopoo beach.