The bottlenose dolphin was found on Matakana beach, north of Mt Maunganui, yesterday.
DOC staff would today examine the dolphin, which is understood to be of a similar size and sex to Moko, with the same missing teeth.
Moko was found to have lost eight teeth during an examination earlier this year, possibly from playing with anchor or mooring chains or ropes. He was last seen about two weeks ago and DOC staff said they had been concerned for him because of the lack of sightings.
"Based on the size, markings and teeth of the carcass, we think that this is Moko," DOC ranger Jamie Quirk said today.
Mr Quirk has worked with Moko since he turned up on the Mahia Peninsula on the east coast in 2007.
The playful solitary dolphin had been a familiar sight around Gisborne before following a fishing boat to the Bay of Plenty earlier this year.
Moko arrived at Pilot Bay in Mt Maunganui on June 3, but has been seen rarely since.
Marine biologist Amy Taylor, who has been making a film about Moko, told NZPA this afternoon she was about to depart on a boat to help identify the dolphin.
DOC Tauranga area manager Andrew Baucke said Moko was a wild animal and his death could have been caused by any number of factors.
"We'll be taking steps to identify the cause of death and dispose of the body appropriately," he said.
"This is a sad loss. The way that Moko interacted with people really inspired public interest and care for dolphins and marine mammals and their environment in general.
"I'm sure that those who got to see and swim with him will treasure those memories."
