A lifeless bottlenose dolphin calf was discovered washed ashore near Jacksonville, Florida.
TMZ reports that the grim discovery has sparked a wave of investigations and controversy due to its potential connection to a viral Instagram photo-op that has ignited outrage across social media platforms.
Wildlife authorities are now racing against time to unravel the circumstances surrounding the young marine mammal's untimely demise.
Baby Dolphin Posted on Instagram Found Dead?
The deceased dolphin, a mere-year-old, was stumbled upon beneath a bridge spanning a place called the Nassau Sound.
A local news outlet pointed out that this location eerily aligns with the backdrop of an Instagram image that caused a flurry of criticism and subsequently launched a joint inquiry by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The photo in question, which has since been widely circulated, depicted two individuals lifting a dolphin out of the water.
Faces obscured, the individuals ignited a storm of public condemnation as speculations emerged that this very dolphin was the one discovered dead just days later.
Experts Start Investigation
The FWC's initial reports indicated that the dolphin's unique dorsal fin, akin to a marine fingerprint, matched the one seen in the contentious Instagram post.
This identification mechanism proved pivotal in establishing a potential link between the viral image and the unfortunate calf's tragic fate. The circumstances surrounding the dolphin's condition at the time of the photograph remained a point of contention.
Although experts concurred that visual assessment could not definitively determine its vitality, Dr. Quincy Gibson, an associate professor of coastal and marine biology at the University of North Florida noted that the rapid degradation process of a deceased dolphin could obscure this distinction.
She revealed that the FWC report highlighted the young calf's bloated and bleeding mouth, indicative of the decomposition process.
No Charges Filed
While authorities refrained from filing charges against the individuals involved in the photo, the case shines a spotlight on the stringent federal regulations guarding marine life.
Even though bottlenose dolphins are not considered endangered or threatened, they remain protected in U.S. waters by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.
Data from Seaworld tells us that the worldwide population of common bottlenose dolphins is about 600,000. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins are abundant, but the overall population is unknown.
The tragic incident underscores the vital role that marine mammals play in the ecological balance of our oceans. Dr. Gibson reiterated that the deceased calf was likely still nursing at the tender age of one year.
Removing dolphins from their natural buoyant habitat, as portrayed in the photo, can lead to fatal consequences, often resulting from the crushing weight of their own bodies.
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