Dolphin seen near Plymouth Long Beach euthanized
Necropsy showed no cause of dolphin's distressed state
David R. Smith
A striped dolphin that continued to beach itself at Plymouth Long Beach was euthanized to prevent further suffering after experts determined that its health was severely declining.
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The dolphin was reported to Whale and Dolphin Conservation’s Marine Animal Rescue and Response hotline by concerned beachgoers in the late afternoon of Friday, Feb. 17.
They reported that a dolphin that had been swimming close to shore for at least an hour had beached itself multiple times.
Whale and Dolphin Conservation sent staff to the beach to see if the dolphin was still in the area and to watch its behavior.
The organization’s stranding coordinator, Sarah McCormack, saw the dolphin swimming in circles about 20 feet from shore. She called in additional rescue and response team members and equipment.
A half hour later, the dolphin swam onto the beach, a traumatic event similar to a human experiencing a car accident, McCormack said.
The team placed the dolphin in a stretcher and brought it on shore for a health assessment and to provide care.
They recognized it as a striped dolphin, a species not commonly seen in Massachusetts waters.
Striped dolphins are a deep-water species that are highly social and are found in family groups called pods. Seeing a single, striped dolphin close to shore is unusual.
The organization called in the International Fund for Animal Welfare for further support.
The two groups worked together to evaluate the health of the dolphin and determine if it was a candidate for release, which it was not.
A necropsy was performed to try to learn more about why the dolphin beached itself.
The dolphin was thin, but the necropsy showed no obvious cause for its declining health or stranding. The team collected samples to be sent out for further analysis.
In a news release, Whale and Dolphin Conservation thanked the people who reported the dolphin and encouraged anyone who sees a dolphin, whale, porpoise or seal in distress from Weymouth to Plymouth to call the hotline at 617-688-6872.