Dolphin maimed, then thrown into ocean to die Special

Atlantic Beach - A dolphin washed ashore along the coast of North Carolina after being maimed and thrown back into the ocean to suffer and die, researchers claim.

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 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 their 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 presence 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.