The Hector's dolphin was found dead at the head of Milford Sound in Fiordland. Photo: supplied
The Department of Conservation said today there were no obvious signs of the cause of death and the animal had been sent away to be examined.
Doc said while other dolphin species were seen in the sound, sightings of Hector's - either dead or alive - were rare.
It said while they inhabited the West Coast, they didn't usually travel that far south.
Hector's are nationally endangered with a population of just 10,000.
