A stray bottlenose dolphin who was stuck in a New Jersey creek for more than a week died amid a rescue attempt officials said was carried out as a “last resort.”
The dolphin was initially spotted swimming around Skeeter Island Creek in Cape May Court House on May 16. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said crews attempted to herd the creature out of the small body of water a few days later, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
On Friday, they initiated a second rescue attempt involving more than a dozen officers from both federal and local agencies.
“A series of less-invasive tactics were deployed first to attempt to herd the dolphin out of the area without physical capture and handling, including specialized herding equipment,” the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said in a statement shared on Instagram.
When those efforts proved unsuccessful, “the decision was made to attempt an in-water capture,” which is considered “high-risk as they pose a significant danger to both the dolphin as well as the responders.” In a bid to secure the dolphin, crews unleashed a net and used it to haul the creature to shore.
“Unfortunately, once inside the net, the dolphin immediately panicked,” the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said.
The dolphin died just two minutes later. It has since been transported to the New Jersey Animal Health and Diagnostic Lab for a full necropsy. Samples will also be prepared to submit for additional testing.
“Our entire team is deeply saddened about this outcome,” the statement concluded.
It’s still unclear how exactly the dolphin made its way into Skeeter Island Creek.
With News Wire Services
