The body of a bottlenose dolphin, believed to be that of Moko, has been found on Matakana Beach on the island north of Mt Maunganui.
The Department of Conservation (DoC) has received photographic evidence of the body, found on Wednesday.
DoC marine ranger Jamie Quirk says based on its sex, size and species and number of teeth missing, the dolphin appears to be Moko.
He first turned up at Mahia Peninsula in northern Hawke's Bay in 2007.
The dolphin moved to Gisborne last October, and then followed a fishing trawler into the Bay of Plenty in January.
He was last seen about a month ago playing with people in the surf at Mt Maunganui.
DoC staff removed the carcass from Matakana Island on Thursday, and were sending it to Massey University to undergo a necropsy.
DoC Tauranga area manager Andrew Baucke says this much trouble is not normally taken over wild dolphins, but in this case people felt a strong affinity to the friendly bottlenose dolphin.
Due to decay, DoC says, identification will have rely on the mammal's size, markings, sex and teeth. Findings from the necropsy are expected later next week.
