Community Corner

Beached Dolphin Dies in Belmar

Mammal apparently swallows hook and dies before expert help arrives

A dolphin that washed ashore in Belmar Saturday died before a rescue team could arrive from southern New Jersey. 

According to witnesses, the dolphin was struggling in the water just off 17th Avenue beach when surfers and other beachgoers came to its aid and discovered it had swallowed a hook and was wrapped in fishing line. 

The Good Samaritans at first tried helping the dolphin back to sea, but after they put in a call to Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine they brought the dolphin to shore and waited nearly an hour for the experts to arrive. Unfortunately help arrived too late as the dolphin died long before the South Jersey team arrived to the scene. 

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Carol Wolfe of Spring Lake Heights said she was watching her son surf when she spotted a fin in the water. Wolfe along with several others tried to remove the hook and waited for the experts to arrive. 

"You do all you can. It's a shame, it really is," Wolfe said. 

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The dolphin, according to witnesses, was beached for about an hour-and-a-half before the Brigantine crew arrived. 

Sheila Dean, the stranding center's co-director, said an autopsy on the common male dolphin would be conducted at the University of Pennsylvania. Preliminary results are expected no sooner than 48 hours, she said. 

Sonia Reynolds, 10, of Freehold, said she along with several others tried pushing the dolphin back out to sea.

Witnesss said the dolphin was struggling to swim and the group of samaritans eventually helped the dolphin to shore, where it died roughly 10 minutes later. 

Robbi Lehman, of Wall, said she was in the water trying to keep the dolphin's head above water. 

"It's sad, absolutely sad. All you can do is hope," Lehman said. 


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