A dead dolphin was found floating in the rough seas below Fra Ben in Qawra earlier today, he Malta Environment and Planning Authority said.

It said in a statement that the protected mammal was a female juvenile 'striped dolphin' aged between seven and 10 years and measuring 1.8m in length. It did not have any superficial wounds.

Mepa said that although it was still not clear as to why the dolphin died, the Veterinary Division indicated it had been dead for four to seven days.

The carcass will be incinerated following a necropsy.

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