An incident has led to more than 130 dolphins dying after beaching themselves in a mysterious case of mass stranding.
The occurrence, which is currently being investigated by volunteers and marine biologists, allegedly occurred off the coast of West Africa earlier this week.
Check out this incredible video of two dolphins spotted in a river in Louisiana:
The 163 melon-headed dolphins were found stuck on a sandy beach on the island of Boa Vista. A number of images of the distressed animals have since appeared on social media, after being uploaded to social media by the volunteer environmental association, BIOS Cape Verde.
On Wednesday, September 25: a spokesperson for the organisation wrote on the group's official Facebook page that: "Yesterday around 6 am BIOS was called to the rescue of melon-headed whales in the eastern side of the island. Around 163 individuals were stranded including adults, juveniles and calves."
They continued: "Approximately 100 people participated in the rescue efforts including the Agriculture and Environment Ministry, Maritime Authorities, local firefighters, Fisheries Inspector, National Police, local NGOs ... [and] members from the Norte and Bofareira local communities."
They added: "Unfortunately, upon being reintroduced in the sea, most of the animals stranded again. Tomorrow after collecting the samples we will have an estimate on the number of deaths. We thank everyone who showed up to help with the rescue efforts."
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Pexels]]
Marine biologists have offered a variety of explanations for the phenomenon of cetacean stranding, but no hypothesis has yet been accepted as conclusive.
Some zoologists believe that mass strandings can actually be blamed on human interference, and have argued that sonar from submarines has disrupted the navigational senses of dolphins, leading to them beaching themselves.
Other experts postulate that strong oceanic currents or high winds can end up dragging the creatures onto the shore, leaving them suddenly helpless when the tide goes out.
People were left shocked when a pod of almost 100 whales could be seen huddling together in the shape of a heart, shortly before a disaster took place.
In July last year, images shared by Parks and Wildlife Service of a pod of whales coming together on Cheynes Beach in South-West Australia baffled the masses.
The rare sight saw the marine mammals come together to unknowingly form a heart shape in the clear water.
At the time, beachgoers were told to keep their distance - that was until disaster struck.
The whales started slowly moving towards the shore and became stranded on the sand unable to get back to the water.
Reece Whitby, WA’s environment minister described the sight as "unique."
"Those images that we saw off the coast are unique," Whitby said.“It is pretty incredible from a scientific basis in terms of learning about strandings.
He continued: "Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions [staff], when they saw those images, contacted their colleagues around Australia; they were in touch with other jurisdictions that have mass strandings. The feedback we were getting was we have never seen this before."
The next morning, a rescue operation was deployed with DBCA officers and other volunteers offering a helping hand to aid the whales back to a safe place.
But it wasn't easy.
Approximately 50 of the pod were declared dead, with another 46 being helped towards the sea.
While they were being pushed into deeper waters, officials quickly realized that the whales kept breaching, which led to further deaths.
At the time DBCA environment officer Peter Harley said that they would try their best to help the rest of the animals that were still alive.
“What we will do this afternoon to try to guide the whales, is that we will be using vessels and we have some volunteers arriving with kayaks and we will gently coax them into the water and give them the best opportunity to survive,” Harley said before the whales were stranded a second time as per the Guardian.
“The worst-case scenario is that they turn around as they have done before and they head back to the beach and then we start all over again," he added.
Credit: Steve Bell/Getty
Volunteers worked long hours during the rescue mission with Kaysanne Knunckey telling the outlet that the task was extremely difficult.
“It was freezing and hard to stand still just holding the whales,” Knuckey said. “The atmosphere was fairly positive and everyone is just trying to think of the bright side. It is just so heartbreaking that so many have beached themselves.”
As for what caused the pod to strand themselves on the beach, Macquarie University wildlife scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta said it remains a mystery.
“The fact they were in one area very huddled and doing really interesting behaviours and looking around at times suggests something else is going on that we just don’t know,” she said.
It is a battle against the clock for rescue crews in Tasmania, as they are attempting to save as many pilot whales as possible after a large group beached on the island's west coast.
As reported by ABC News, rescuers have stated that they have been able to save 50 pilot whales after they became stranded. However, 380 of the ocean giants have died.
Per the latest reports, thirty remain beached and battling for life.
State authorities have claimed that this is the largest number of beached whales Tasmania has ever seen.
On Monday, approximately 270 whales were discovered in Macquarie Harbour, with another 200 being discovered this morning roughly 10km away, BBC News states.
Parks and Wildlife regional manager Nic Deka has said they were found during an aerial observation as crews calculated how many of the giants were still alive.
Deka told ABC News: "Certainly from the air they didn't look to be in a condition that would warrant rescue, most of them appeared to be dead, but we'll wait on advice from the ground crew before we make a final call on what we do.
"If they can be saved we probably will send crews over there to do that."
He added that the reason this new pod wasn't spotted earlier was because of the distance from the other site and the "very dark tannin" colour of the water.
After rescuing around 25 of the original group, Deka revealed that a small number of them re-beached themselves.
And despite more whales dying overnight, Deka says rescue teams are determined to save those still alive.
"There are still a significant number that are alive," he said. "So we'll continue to work with those."
Wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon has said that euthanasia could be considered as more time starts to pass - but for now, they are focusing on rescue.
"We're not at a stage where we're considering euthanasia at this stage," Carlyon said.
"The animals that are still alive, we think we do have a chance with those given that they're wet, they're cool at this stage and we're pushing ahead with rescue."
Deka added that crews have a limited time window before their rescue mission becomes a "retrieval and disposal effort".
According to the BBC, Tasmania's previous largest stranding was back in 1935 when 294 pilot whales washed up on shore.
The state's last mass stranding took place in 2009 and involved about 200 pilot whales.
According to uk.whales.org, pilot whales can grow between 18ft 7"- 21ft 9" in length, depending on their sex, with males being larger.
Fully grown pilot whales can also weight anywhere between 2860lbs - 5070lbs.
James Tucker from the Marine Science Centre at Southern Cross University in New South Wales told ABC News: "It's going to be a huge operation with that many animals."
For the whales that have died, Tucker said there were four main options for dealing with the carcasses: dragging them out to sea, burying them, leaving them to decompose, or disposing of them at a waste management facility.
Tucker added that leaving this many carcasses in the sea could also "increase the risk of their being an interaction between a human being in the water and a shark".
A dolphinarium in the city of Varna on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast has attracted criticism over the reported death of a baby dolphin.
Per BTV Novinite, an audience member alleges that the incident occurred during a live performance at the aquatic zoo earlier this month.
"There was a disturbance, the dolphins stopped playing and performing tricks," recalls spectator, Bisser Lyubenov. He claimed that the show was then cut short, and that they were asked to leave.
Two pink dolphins were spotted in a Louisiana river:
According to another witness, the body of the dolphin could be seen by visitors in the park's cafe.
However, the dolphinarium denies that the animal died during the live show, and in front of children.
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Tsvetan Stanev, a biologist who is employed at the aquatic zoo, says that the calf and its mother had been separated from the other dolphins since its birth.
"You can’t have a mother leaving its child in order to take part in the show. This can happen about six months after the birth. A baby dolphin taking part in performances nine days after it was born – this has never happened in this dolphinarium."
However, concerns for the welfare of the animals at the facility have not been put to rest by this explanation. Yavor Gechev, from the animal protection organisation Four Paws, has highlighted that six animals - five dolphins and one seal - have perished at the park in the last five years. He claims the mortality rate is much higher than in other marine parks.
A man recently spotted a '30-foot' shark swimming near his boat:
"This means categorically that conditions don’t meet even the minimal standards for keeping such animals," he told the publication. "The animals are struggling there, they are not surviving."
Since news of the incident broke, outraged animal lovers have taken to social media to launch a petition calling for the closure of the park.
"I saw the show once and I'm still horrified about the way the dolphins get treated! It's clear that a big profit is made at the expense of the animals who are forced to perform too often," wrote one Facebook user.
A shocking video has ignited global outrage after capturing a terrifying moment at a luxury Mexican resort where a dolphin is believed to have died after jumping out of its pool.
The clip, which quickly surfaced on social media platforms, has led to a flood of negative reviews on the resort’s social media pages -- with many calling for an end to animal performances at the venue.
The video shows three captive dolphins leaping from the water as lifejacket-clad tourists look on.
One of the dolphins, however, appears to miscalculate its jump and misjudge the edge of its enclosure, landing painfully on the edge of the pool.
The animal remains motionless as trainers rush to its aid, sparking concerns about its well-being.
Marine Activist: "It's Completely Inexcusable"
The footage was later shared by the activist group UrgentSeas on Instagram.
"The following incident took place in January, 2025 at @barcelomayagrandresort. The guest who filmed this has asked to remain anonymous," the caption reads. "Though we cannot confirm, we are told that the dolphin has died following this SHOCKING and UNNECESSARY injury.
"Please comment, review and BOYCOTT Hotel Barcelo Maya in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Warning: The footage contains distressing content and viewer discretion is advised.
Marine mammal activist Phil Demers shared the disturbing footage through his UrgentSeas social media accounts and expressed his disbelief at what he had seen.
“This particular incident is one of the worst. It really, truly is. Even if it survived, its health is going to be severely compromised,” Demers told Yahoo News on Saturday morning.
“It’s completely inexcusable, it’s something that never would happen in the wild. It just eliminates any rationale they should exist in these concrete tanks.”
PETA has also released an article following the incident, where the group calls for the dolphin shows and experiences to stop.
The dolphin show pool. Credit: Google Maps
"These animals are trained to perform unnatural tricks," writes PETA's staff. "In 'swim with dolphins' encounters, they are forced to repeatedly push and pull human tourists around, sometimes over 50 times a day."
Resort Under Fire Over Dolphin Enclosures
The incident is alleged to have taken place at Barceló Maya Grand Resort, located near Cancún, Mexico.
"Step into a breezy open-air palapa to check in, then spend the rest of your experience surrounded by tropical paradise while you interact with the dolphins and learn how to care for the oceans surrounding the Riviera Maya," a website promoting the experiences reads. "For your comfort, you’ll also find amenities like locker rental, changing rooms, showers, and photo/video services." A promotional video can be seen below:
Following the video’s release, the resort’s social media pages were bombarded with criticism, prompting the company to limit comments on recent posts. However, older content remains open, where animal welfare advocates have demanded change.
“This broke my heart and flipped my stomach upside down,” one commenter wrote. Another, posting in Spanish, simply demanded: “We demand the closure.”
Comments on one of the resort's most recent posts. Credit: Instagram
Social media users are voicing their opinions on the resort's Instagram page. Credit: Instagram
Social media users are voicing their opinions on the resort's Instagram page. Credit: Instagram
PETA's message to guests at the resort is "never pay to 'swim with dolphins' or engage in any other activity that sees them exploited for profit."
Yahoo News reached out to the resort’s parent company, Grupo Barcelo, but they did not immediately reply.
"Like a Prison"
Demers first raised concerns about the resort in January - just days before the new viral video surfaced online.
Activists releasing drone footage showing the facility’s dual dolphin tanks, which sit just meters from the open ocean.
Opponents have described the conditions as “like a prison”, arguing that these are among the smallest dolphin enclosures in Latin America.
This video was taken on Jan 22, 2025 above @barcelomayagrandresort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. It is home to 4 captive dolphins in Latin America’s smallest dolphin tank. Please BOYCOTT HOTEL BARCELO," one caption reads.
Following this latest incident, Demers reiterated his call for the dolphins to be removed, emphasizing that their confinement is both cruel and dangerous.
“This is the reality. We can close our eyes, but that's not going to serve the animals.”
Joint Statement Released
Following the incident, several animal rights organizations have come together to release a joint statement.
"For a year now, the organisations Animal Heroes, Dolphin Freedom, Marea, and Oceanos De Vida Libre have maintained a permanent campaign demanding the closure of this dolphinarium, which is one of the smallest in Mexico," the statement begins. "We have delivered letters to both Barcelo in Playa del Carmen and in Mexico City, as well as letters from schoolchildren in Baja California pleading for an end to the exploitation of dolphins, yet they have never been willing to receive us."
They add: "In addition, we have exposed other tragedies, such as the deaths of the dolphins Alex and Plata in just one year, which were never properly investigated.
"We have shown that the dolphin pool is smaller than those for humans, despite the fact that in the wild they swim vast distances and depths, that they have no shelter from the sun, and so on."
Investigation Underway
Mexican environmental authorities have launched an investigation into the deaths of two dolphins used for tourist entertainment at the Barceló Riviera Maya Hotel.
PETA states on its website: "Two dolphins, Plata and Alex, suffered severe injuries and died within 12 months of each other after being attacked by an incompatible tankmate at Barceló."
The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) confirmed the inquiry in a press release, stating: “On January 24, Profepa requested the submission of the documentation with which the Dolphinaris Barceló dolphinarium, located at the Barceló Hotel, notified the Directorate General of Wildlife (DGVS) about the death of the dolphin named Plata.”
Authorities also demanded records related to a second dolphin named Alex, requesting his transfer authorization and, if applicable, official notification of his death.
The investigation will also review the resort's dolphin inventory from 2018 to 2024, tracking animal acquisitions and removals to ensure compliance with legal ownership regulations.
Following the deaths, Playa del Carmen Mayor Estefanía Mercado addressed the situation, emphasizing the importance of animal welfare protections.
“In light of the events surrounding the death of a dolphin at the Barceló Riviera Maya Hotel, we inform you that our Ministry of the Environment is in communication with state and federal authorities, who have taken over the investigation.”
She also reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to strengthening regulations for captive animals, stating: “From the Government of Solidaridad, we reaffirm our commitment to animal protection and will work on proposals to strengthen regulations that guarantee their well-being because the right to human enjoyment should never cost the life of a living being.”
With scrutiny mounting, the resort and its Dolphinaris Barceló dolphinarium could face serious consequences if found in violation of wildlife protection laws.
Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures. They understand how to have fun, they can communicate with each other effectively, and they can even communicate with us, even following directions given to them in sign language.
Along with that intelligence, though, comes an innate understanding of tragedy and loss. And when those bad things happen to dolphins, they feel an emotional response similar to a human one.
Earlier this week, this became heartbreakingly evident when a dolphin in Perth, Australia, was spotted carrying around the body of her baby.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook/Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia]]
"A sad outcome for one of the Swan Canning Riverpark’s new dolphin calves," the Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia organisation posted yesterday on their Facebook page.
"The calf was found deceased in Claremont Bay after becoming entangled in a crab pot. Mother Moon was swimming alongside the calf when the pair was located by the Parks and Wildlife Service on Monday after being reported by a member of the public.
"The dead calf has since been freed from the crab pot, but remains in the water with the mother dolphin as she grieves. Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures and are known to stay with their young for a period of time following a death."
So far, Parks and Wildlife have chosen not to intervene, but have said they will do so when the mother has had enough time to mourn her baby.
"We will continue to monitor the pair and remove the calf when appropriate to do so. We ask the public to stay well away from the dolphin and her dead calf during this time," they said. "This is a timely reminder to safely dispose of all fishing lines and ropes and report any tangled wildlife immediately to the Wildcare Helpline."
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook/Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia]]
Fishing lines and crab pots are not supposed to be left in the water unattended, as they can easily wind up injuring - or, in this case, killing - vulnerable wildlife. In light of this, many commenters on the post have expressed their sadness at seeing such a terrible thing happen.
"If only humans could be less incompetent! No other species screws up other kinds, or their own, as much as we do," wrote Gemma Seabourne-Hatton. "Bless the rescuers and for respecting and honouring the time this Mama needs to grieve her wee calf. Thank you, on behalf of us caring humans, we appreciate your work."
"Look at her, trying to bring the calf to the surface so it can breathe.... heartbreaking," added Sharon Spartanette.
Hopefully, this will be a lesson to people to stop polluting our rivers and oceans - not just with plastics or other non-degradable materials, but also with anything that could be hazardous to the wildlife that live there.
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