Two Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins were spotted off the coast of Jeju, each carrying a dead calf on their bodies, including their long snouts, and repeatedly pushing them to the surface of the water.

According to Oh Seung-mok, a director at DocuJeju, on July 9, the two dead calves were spotted being carried by their mothers at 3:20 p.m. on July 8 in the waters off Gimnyeong-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin is an internationally protected species and an endangered wild animal.

It was clearly visible that the two calves were dead, with their white bellies exposed and their bodies hanging limply.

Whenever the limp calves began to sink into the water, the mothers repeatedly used their long snouts to push them back up to the surface.

Director Oh said, "When we first spotted them, we found one calf that appeared to have been dead for four to five days due to the state of decomposition. I was very surprised to then see another, slightly older calf that was also dead."

The second calf showed signs that decomposition had just begun, suggesting that the two calves in the same pod died several days apart.

Oh added, "Dolphin mothers have a habit of not letting go of their calves even after they die, carrying them on their bodies. It was heartbreaking to see this happening to two calves in a single pod at the same time."

No traces of marine debris, fishing lines, or abandoned fishing gear were found at the scene.

DocuJeju alone has recorded 3 dead calves in 2024, 9 in 2024, and 5 in 2025.

This year, dead calves were also found on February 15 off the breakwater of Sagye Port in Andeok-myeon and on March 13 off the coast of Ilgwa-ri, Daejeong-eup. Including these two, a total of 4 deaths have been confirmed so far this year.

Director Oh speculated, "While the exact cause of death for these calves remains unknown, they may have died from stress, natural diseases, or suffocation."

He continued, "There are frequent instances where vessels or recreational jet skis intentionally approach the waters where dolphins roam freely, causing them stress. This is a situation that requires serious reflection."

(Photo: Provided by DocuJeju / Jeju National University Cetacean and Marine Animal Research Center, Yonhap News)