A number of dolphin carcasses have been washed up at different locations on Donegal’s coastline in recent days.
Members of the Donegal branch of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group revealed that two of the sea creatures were found on Magheroarty Beach and Fanad Head Beach this week.
It is understood the sightings have been identified as Bottlenose dolphins.
The tragic news follows only weeks after a huge sperm whale was found on Magheroarty Beach.
In the last week, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group received two other separate reports of sperm whale strandings in Sligo and Galway.
All three were dead when washed ashore.
The group’s strandings officer Mick O’Connell said unusual stranding patterns are increasing.
“What is unusual about this episode is that there have been three in just over a week. Why would three die at the same time and wash ashore?”
He said without a post mortem examination on each animal “it is very difficult to establish a cause of death”.
The Donegal group said urged members of the public to stay vigilant for further strandings.
It has been reported that whales washed ashore in the county over recent weeks may have been confused while trying to swim away from underwater military sonar signals, experts suspect.
A spokesperson said: “Keep an eye out and don’t forget to report your sightings to IWDG page.
“All the information is helping better understanding of marine mammals in Irish waters and hopefully better protection.”
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