A closeup view of a bottlenose dolphin shows signs of skin lesions associated with a deadly skin disease known as ulcerative dermatitis. The increasing frequency and severity of storm systems drastically decrease the salinity of coastal waters, causing fatal skin disease in dolphins worldwide.

The early arrival of the dolphins can be attributed to rainfall from cyclone Nisarga that caused rainfall over the Chure range.

"Dolphin strandings have more than tripled in recent years with more than 70 animals washed up dead or dying on Irish beaches since the start of the year."