Beach Goers Kill Rare Baby Dolphin after Passing it around for Selfies
Beach goers and tourists in Argentina killed a rare baby dolphin last week after they selfishly passed the animal around for selfies, the Argentine Wildlife Foundation confirmed.
The news reports stated that the people at the beach resort of Santa Teresita, located in Buenos Aires, grabbed two La Plata dolphins, also known as Franciscana dolphins, out of the ocean in order to pet it and take pictures with it. This species of dolphins is one of the smallest species throughout the world.
Although one dolphin managed to survive, the other one died, most likely from dehydration. Once the dolphin was "manhandled to death," according to several reports, its dead body was carelessly left behind in the sand while onlookers continued to take pictures.
The Wildlife Foundation issued this warning (via Daily Mail):
"The Franciscana, like other species, cannot remain for much time outside of the water. It has thick fatty skin which gives it heat and means that taking it out of the water causes it to dehydrate rapidly and die. This occasion serves to inform the public about the urgent necessity to return these dolphins to the sea as soon as possible if they find them on the shore. It is fundamental that people help to rescue these animals, because every Franciscana counts now."
Animal rights groups throughout the world have expressed their anger.
The spokeswoman for Australia's arm of World Animal Protection said, "This terribly unfortunate event is an example of the casual cruelty people can inflict when they use animals for entertainment purposes, without thinking of the animal's needs. Wild animals are not toys or photo props. They should be appreciated - and left alone - in the wild where they belong."
The Franciscana, which is native to Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, is listed as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature list.
