KKP Responds Swiftly to Stranded Dolphin in Kutai Kartanegara

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) moved swiftly to follow up on a public report regarding the discovery of a dolphin carcass adrift in the waters of Rempanga Village, Loa Kulu District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan. The handling was carried out directly with the community and village government, encompassing the search, evacuation, collection of biological samples, and final disposal of the animal carcass. Director General of Marine Management, Koswara, stated that a rapid response to every incident of stranded marine mammals is a vital part of conservation efforts as well as strengthening the scientific database to support marine resource management. He emphasised that, aside from being a form of protection for protected species, this handling also provides important scientific data to support the management and conservation of marine mammals in Indonesia. ‘We appreciate the active role of the community who promptly reported this incident so that the handling process could be carried out properly,’ he said on Thursday, 23 July 2026. The report regarding the discovery of the dolphin carcass was initially received by the Pontianak Marine Management Office from the residents of Rempanga Village on Saturday, 18 July 2026. Following up on the information, the team immediately coordinated with the village government and community before conducting a search by boat along the waters near the Kutai Kartanegara Bridge, Kumala Island, and downstream areas. The dolphin carcass was eventually found downstream of the Kutai Kartanegara Bridge in an already decomposed state. Based on initial identification, the animal was an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), male, with a body length of approximately 223 centimetres. The Head of the Pontianak Marine Management Office, Syarif Iwan Taruna Alkadrie, explained that immediately after discovery, the team carried out identification, documentation, and collection of skin tissue samples to support DNA analysis as part of strengthening scientific data. ‘After all examination stages were completed, the dolphin carcass was handled through burial in accordance with the procedures for handling stranded marine mammals,’ he said. The skin tissue samples were subsequently handed over to the RASI Conservation Foundation to support the storage and DNA analysis process, aimed at confirming the species and completing the genetic information of the marine mammal. The entire series of actions was carried out with the full support of the Rempanga Village government and the community, who assisted from the initial report, through the search process, to the final handling of the carcass.