British Aquarim Boss Euthanises Baby Dolphin In Majorca

The British director of an aquarium has explained why she had to euthanise this baby dolphin after it was stranded on a beach in the Spanish island of Majorca.

Local authorities called the British director of the Palma Aquarium Marine Fauna Rescue Centre Debora Morrison to help to rescue the baby striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded on a beach in the municipality of Puerto de Alcudia in the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca.

Morrison told Newsflash: “I was pulled out of bed at six in the morning. These animals live in the deep ocean and they very rarely come close to the coast. It was stranded, alone, and that was a very bad sign.”

According to the aquarium director, local authorities tried to pull the baby dolphin back into the sea several times.

Credit: Newsflash/Deborah Morrison
The baby dophin stranded on a beach on Puerto de Alcudia

Morrison added: “The animal was suffering from stranding syndrome, its heart was beating fast, it was shaking, and when they (local authorities) tried to take it into the sea it just got stranded again.”

Morrison also told Newsflash: “We had to put it out of its suffering and we gave it euthanasia. We were not leaving it to die suffering on the beach.”

Reports said that the Palma Aquarium is waiting for the results of the forensic examination to find out more about the cause of the stranding.

Local media reported that 12 dolphins got stranded in the same beach in June 2014.

When asked about the possible cause why the animal beached on Puerto de Alcudia Morrison told local media: “We had two days of bad weather before the animal was found and I think it has to do with it. Every time that we have a storm the sea throws up animals, dead or alive. I think it might be related.”


To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Jonathan MaciasSub-EditorMichael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.

DailyStar

GET THE NEW STORIE ON TIME!!!!

This field is required.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Signup to our Newsletter

This field is required.