National Parks meanwhile continues to monitor the three bottlenose dolphins living in the Tuross estuary declaring them safe and content for now.

Area manager Tony Baxter said rangers were conducting regular checks supplemented by reports from locals and all indications were that the condition of the trapped dolphins was fine.

The dolphins have been trapped in the estuary from several months, but it appeared they were feeding and their bodies were not exhibiting any signs of stress or malnutrition.

“Their body shape is fine,” he said.

National Parks was also monitoring the salinity of the estuary with one concern being that the water could become too fresh for the dolphins but if in an influx of fresh water did come, it was hoped the estuary would reopen sufficiently for the dolphins to swim free, Mr Baxter said.

The dolphin at Australia Rock meanwhile was a different species, a common dolphin, and from the photograph supplied by the Narooma News, he said there was no evidence that the dolphin died under suspicious circumstances or was killed.

As the dolphin did not wash up in a National Park, typically it would be the responsibility of the shire council to remove its body.