One of the most delicate ecosystems along the Gujarat coast, the Marine National Park near Jamnagar, India was jolted by a shocking incident recently when a contractor used dynamite to extract the wreckage of a sunken ship.

The explosion killed three dolphins and two sea turtles. Forest officials in the area have filed a case against the contractor, Devji. The vessel was 15 feet below the ocean floor and the company used dynamite to remove the thick layer of silt without permission from the Marine National Park authorities.

Devji stopped the operation only after the animals were killed – both species are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. This was an illegal act and if the explosion had released hazardous material from the ship into the water, more marine life would have been killed.

A similar incident took place in 1989, but neither was the area declared a sanctuary at that time nor was the Environment Protection Act in place.