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| WVFitzgerald.blogspot.com |
As I sat on the beach at Atlantic Beach North Carolina word began to spread that a dolphin had washed ashore only a couple of hundred yards away. I grabbed my camera and started walking down the beach to where a small crowd had gathered.
I immediately noticed a huge wound in the dolphin's side accompanied by large teeth marks, the dolphin was also missing it's tail. The people in the crowd speculated that the dolphin had been the victim of a shark attack.
A small group of three researchers arrived to transport the remains to a more hospitable environment for preservation and further study. They quickly conducted a preliminary examination taking measurements, checking body temperature and examining the wounds.
Despite their apparent sense of urgency to move the animal the researches took a moment to express there thanks to the person who had called them. They went on to say that they collect approximately 130 sea animals annually that wash ashore along the coast.
After completing their examination the researchers determined that a shark had in fact attacked the dolphin. This was evident in the two large bite wounds, one on each side of the midsection. They then informed the crowd that the missing tail was not the result of the shark attack. The tail had been cleanly severed by a knife or other sharp object.
Although impossible to prove, they believed the most likely scenario was that the dolphin became tangled in a fishing net, the fishermen then cut the tail off to free the animal without risking damage to their nets. The dolphin was thrown back into the ocean, alive but unable to swim or defend itself properly.
The presents of the injured dolphin soon attracted a hungry shark that attacked leaving the two gaping wounds; shortly thereafter the tide carried the remains to the beach. According to the internal body temperature the dolphin had died shortly before washing ashore.
It seems that this is a case of time and money outweighing the need for the humane treatment of all life. As is the case for most of us "time is money" in the fishing industry and nets cost money. It is most unfortunate that this results in an animal of any kind being maimed and left to suffer before eventually dying. If it is in fact necessary to injure the dolphin to remove it from the nets I would have to say that I believe it would be far more humane to kill it as opposed to letting it suffer.
