Photo: Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network
A sick dolphin’s death serves as a reminder for beachgoers not to “interact” with the stranded mammal.
On Tuesday, the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network shared photos onFacebookof a dolphin stranded on Quintana Beach, on the Texas Gulf Coast. One picture shows several people surrounding the animal as one person bends down and puts their hand near her mouth. The dolphin lies on the shore of the beach while people stand around her in another photo.
Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network
“If a live dolphin or whale strands in Texas, please DO NOT PUSH the animal back to sea, do not attempt to swim or interact with them, do not crowd them, and immediately call 1-800-9MAMMAL (1-800-962-6625) for guidance on how to help support the animal until the TMMSN rescue response arrives!” it urged.
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The Quintana Beach County Park said of the incident onFacebook, “This was a tragedy. Park staff was called to assist in keeping the public away from the dolphin until rescuers could arrive from Galveston. Unfortunately, it was a retrieval, not a rescue. The animal was taken for necropsy to try and determine the cause of the stranding.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on itswebsitethat the Marine Mammal Protection Act bans “feeding, attempting to feed, and harassing marine mammals in the wild.”
Violating the MMPA can result in an $11,000 fine and up to a year in prison, the NOAA added.
source: people.com
