Stranded Dolphin in NJ River Dies

A dolphin stranded in a New Jersey river died Saturday despite efforts to coax it into deeper water, said volunteers at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

The dolphin was first spotted Wednesday in the South River, near Old Matawan Road, in Old Bridge. Volunteers at the stranding center had hoped it would go back into the ocean with the high tide.

When the dolphin remained for a second day, workers from the Raritan Riverkeeper organization went into the water with a baykeeper boat to try to gently push and guide the dolphin down the river.

The dolphin did move down the river, but ran aground, volunteers told NBC 4 New York. Rescuers pulled the animal from the water to take it to a veterinarian, but the dolphin died in transit, they said.

The dolphin appeared to be quite old, said Bob Schoelkopf, the center's director.

A necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
 

Contact Us