Eight dolphins die after washing onto New Jersey beach
It is the latest in a wave of dolphin and whale strandings on New Jersey and New York beaches
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Eight dolphins are dead after becoming stranded on a New Jersey beach, according to animal welfare officials.
The pod of so-called “common dolphins” came ashore at Sea Isle City, in the southern part of the state, on Tuesday morning.
Two dolphins died on the beach and the six remaining dolphins were later humanely euthanized, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center posted on Facebook.
The animals’ conditions had rapidly deteriorated after attempts to save them and returning them to the ocean would have prolonged their inevitable death, officials said.
All eight dolphins have been transported to the New Jersey State Lab for immediate necropsies. The results will not be available for several months.
“We share in the public’s sorrow for these beautiful animals, and hope that the necropsies will help us understand the reason for their stranding,” the centre wrote.
The dolphin deaths are the latest in a wave of unexplained dolphin and whale strandings at beaches in New Jersey and New York.
On 15th March, the centre responded to a report of two stranded dolphins on a sandbar near a pier in Sandy Hook Bay at the northern end of the Jersey Shore.
Two Common dolphins, a deceased adult and a calf,which was still alive, were rescued by staff and volunteers.
After a veterinary exam, it was determined that the calf was in an extremely weakened condition and could not survive. The decision was made to euthanize the creature to prevent any further suffering.
Some experts have pointed to the rise in ocean temperatures being driven by the climate crisis as a potential cause. Others have suggested that new sonar testing for the development of offshore wind farms could be having an impact on the marine mammals.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments