Pod of dolphins deliberately swim onto beach in suicide attempt

Four pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) died, but forest managers managed to salvage the rest of the capsule.
The villagers were the first to notice the dolphins, each weighing at least 100 kilograms (220 pounds), disembarking on the coast.

The villagers warned the forest managers of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve and the State Forestry Department who came to the site.
They also tried to return the dolphins to the water and again they continued swimming directly on the beach.
Four of them finally died and their corpses were stranded.
Marine biologist Rahul Muralidharan said it was impossible to say why the dolphins were stranded, but an autopsy could reveal the answer.
He said: "These examples of dolphins that have run aground are very rare.
"Spotted dolphins are deep-water species and are found in water depths of more than 50 meters (164 feet)." Therefore, only an autopsy can reveal what brought them to Earth, we can not just speculate.

"These dolphins are native to the Indian Ocean, but we still do not know why they were stranded on the coast.
"The veterinarians should arrive soon and an autopsy can help understand the reason.
"The biggest problem here, however, is that there is no fixed mechanism or rules on how to deal with such incidents.
"The scientists will have to give us clear instructions so that we do not cause more damage to these animals."
This is not the first time that marine mammals have been stranded in the fishing village.
Last year, 83 pilot whales ran aground on the beach and were taken back to the sea, but the next day they were found dead on the shore.
Mr. Logasundaram added: "Despite these deaths, there has not been a clear report on why whales die or what forest managers should do to save them.