A male dolphin found in a private beach in East Hampton have been euthanized after the animal’s health had deteriorated overnight. The dolphin was rescued by the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation on Saturday.
The foundation received a call from the East Hampton police about the animal being on shore early Saturday, according to a statement made by Rachel Bosworth, a spokeswoman for the foundation.
A team, two biologists and an intern, arrived at the location to help the dolphin and decided to transport the underweight animal to the foundation’s hospital facility in Riverhead. Local police helped carried the 268-pound, 7-foot-10-inch male dolphin to the foundation’s vehicle.
Once in the facility, the animal was introduced into a cetacean tank and had blood samples taken to determine if any bacteria was harming the rescued. The animal was in the meantime put on tube fed fluids to assist with rehydratation, according to the rescue party.
Overnight, the dolphin just continued to decline, the foundation said. Blood have been discovered in his gastrointestinal tract and the creature was having enormous troubles to swim.
Due to the unlikelihood of making it through rehab and lack of improvement in its health, the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation decided the most humane course of action was to euthanize the animal.
“After consulting with veterinarians and animal husbandry team it was determined not to prolong the animals suffering and that the most humane course of action was to euthanize the dolphin,” said Robert A. DiGiovanni Jr., Executive Director and Senior Biologist of the Foundation.
Their best efforts
DiGiovanni Jr. explained they even though they always strive for a positive outcome, every animal is treated as individuals and they work to do what is in the best interest of the animal, referring to the delicate action they had to make.
He also said that he and the foundation appreciate the support from the public in their efforts to try to save the animal. The dolphin was euthanized and passed away peacefully on Sunday, the Biologist added.
Source: News Day