A DECOMPOSING dolphin has washed up on the rocks of a south coast beach in a fashion an expert has described as uncommon.

The dolphin washed up on a section of rocks near the coloured door beach huts at Milford on Sea beach near Lymington last month and has attracted interest from passers-by.

Retired journalist David Haith captured the decaying carcass while visiting the beach and described it as “such a sad sight”.

According to the senior marine biologist of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, the event is relatively rare for this section of the south coast and as such a cause of death was difficult to determine.

Dr Tim Ferrero said: “Judging by this animal’s teeth, I'd say it is a dolphin rather than a porpoise, but to be certain it would need to be seen by a specialist cetacean expert.

“I would say this animal died somewhere out at sea, and then spent quite a while decomposing before getting washed up on the shore by wind, waves and currents. I don't think it stranded on the rocks as someone would've noticed it earlier.

“The Solent coastline is not a hotspot for cetacean strandings, as it’s not a hotspot for cetaceans in general, but – having said that – there are usually a few strandings every year.”

Dr Ferrero said the dolphin had most likely been dead for weeks or months and could have begun decaying offshore before washing up.

Bournemouth Echo: Beach hut area of Milford-on-Sea beach, near where the dolphin washed up.Beach hut area of Milford-on-Sea beach, near where the dolphin washed up.

In terms of a cause of death, Dr Ferrero added: “It’s very hard to say because the carcass is really badly decayed, but there are no obvious signs of massive trauma.

“Necropsies tend to show a lot of deaths from disease, parasite load or starvation, and even attack by other dolphins. There are bycatch issues, for example in the south west, but that is probably less likely in this location. But again, with the level of decay it’s near impossible to judge from photos.”

In March last year, a young short-beaked common dolphin was found dead at Weymouth's Bowleaze Cove with no signs of decomposition or markings.

Another dolphin was found washed up on Bournemouth beach in similar circumstances in December 2020.