A video has emerged online showing the moment a fisherman carried an endangered dolphin over his shoulder after accidentally catching the beautiful creature in his net.
The Gangetic dolphin, a species of South Asian river dolphin, became caught in the nets of local fisherman Mohammed Qayum.
In the heartwarming video, captured on July 3, Qayum can be seen carrying the dolphin away from the nets in the Parmaan river, in Purnia, India. As he cradles the mammal, the caring fisherman can be seen untangling some rope that has become caught around the animal's tail fin.
As a crowd of people gathers and shouts at the fisherman, Qayum lowers the endangered dolphin back into the water - releasing it into safety.
One witness said: "The dolphin had strayed into the Parmaan river from the Ganges. Consequently, the aquatic mammal got entangled in the fishing net.
"A massive crowd gathered in the area to get a glimpse of the mammal.
"The villagers immediately alerted the Jalalgarh police station in-charge, Maneka Rani, and the Block Development Officer of Jalalgarh.
"A forest team department rushed to the spot and took the dolphin in their possession."
[[imagecaption|| Credit: SWNS]]
The Gangetic dolphin is of a type that lives in freshwater and rivers, and is primarily found in The Ganges - as well as its tributaries in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
The Ganges river dolphin has been recognized by the government of India as its National Aquatic Animal and is the official animal of the Indian city of Guwahati.
They are protected under the Indian Wildlife Act and are listed by the IUCN as endangered on their Red List of Threatened Species.
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.
There's no doubt that, aside from homo sapiens, dolphins are among the most intelligent species on the planet. These mammals are highly emotional and problem-solving. They have loving interpersonal relationships, and the bonds shared by family members are almost as intense as those experienced by human beings.
Check out this incredible video of a pair of dolphins spotted in a Louisiana river:
If you want proof of this then all you need to do is take the example of this mother and child: a pair of dolphins were spotted by a cameraman off the coast of Naples in Italy, and he managed to capture footage of their heartwarming reunion.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook/Mario Polizzi]]
Recently, Mario Polizzi was out on the open sea in a boat near the scenic Italian island of Procida, when he spotted something alarming: a young dolphin calf had become entangled in a fishing net and was struggling to free itself.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook/Mario Polizzi]]
However, when the fishermen worked to free the innocent animal from the net, and it swam back to its parent, the mommy dolphin leapt out of the water several times; as if she was jumping for joy at being reunited with her baby. The mommy dolphin broke the surface of the water three separate times before swimming away.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Facebook/Mario Polizzi]]
Dolphins are highly social animals, often living in pods of up to a dozen individuals, where they establish strong social bonds. They care for injured or sick individuals, sometimes even helping them to breathe by helping them swim to the surface if needed.
Dolphins leap from the water for a variety of reasons: such as to decrease friction while swimming, and to dislodge parasites - but they can also jump while playing, or to express pleasure and/or happiness.
Check out this awesome video of a great white shark:
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.
A rare type of dolphin has reportedly returned to the waters of Hong Kong after ferry crossings were halted as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
Per The Guardian, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, also known as 'Chinese white dolphins' and 'pink dolphins', have typically avoided the waters between Hong Kong and Macau due to the number of high-speed boats and ferries in operation there.
However, experts claim that the local dolphin population has risen by 30% since March due to the drastic reduction of water traffic, including the suspension of ferries, caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to The Guardian, St Andrews University senior research associate Dr Lindsay Porter said that she first noticed the increase in the numbers of dolphins when conducting routine surveys soon after Hong Kong had closed its borders, stating:
"It was the last week in February, literally the week after the ferries stopped travelling between Hong Kong and Macau.
"I’ve been studying these dolphins since 1993 and I’ve never seen anything like this dramatic change before, and the only thing that changed is 200 ferries stopped travelling before."
Dr. Porter also added that the newfound lack of human interference has led to the animals getting a little bit, ahem, frisky. Porter continued:
"From visual observations the dolphins are spending much more time socialising, splashing around on the surface, quite a bit of foreplay, quite a bit of sex.
"Hong Kong dolphins normally live on the edges, they’re stressed, they spend their time eating and resting. So to see them playing […] to see them having a good time, that was really great to see."
Hong Kong pedestrians and bystanders have since taken to Twitter to celebrate the good news about the dolphins, with some even sharing footage of the animals in their habitat.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Twitter]]
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Twitter]]
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Twitter]]
For instance, one Twitter-user stated:
"The pink dolphins have returned to Hong Kong waters after the COVID shutdown of the harbor. Maybe humans staying in their own lane isn't so bad after all."
Only time will tell whether coronavirus restrictions will lead to a lasting change for endangered species around the world, or if the crisis is nothing more than a figurative drop in the ocean for environmental issues.
Twelve years ago, an extremely rare pink dolphin was spotted swimming in Louisiana's Calcasieu River. Locals named the unusual creature 'Pinky' (of course), and she quickly rose to fame, even boasting her own Facebook fan page. Recently several fishermen in the area noticed Pinky swimming with a pink baby calf, presumably her baby.
Thomas Anderson recorded the adorable pair jumping in front of a boat and uploaded the video to Facebook, where it went viral.
Watch the two pink dolphins swim in Louisiana's Calcasieu River
Reportedly Captain Erik Rue of Calcasieu Charter Service was the first to spot the baby calf, and he's not surprised that Pinky's a mother. "I’ve noticed, she’s very sexually active," Rue told KATC.
Most dolphins have pink bellies, but Pinky is 100% pink due to a genetic mutation. "The mammal is entirely pink from tip to tail and has reddish eyes. The skin appears smooth, glossy pink and without flaws," Rue said. "Surprisingly, it does not appear to be drastically affected by the environment or sunlight as might be expected considering its condition, although it tends to remain below the surface a little more than the others in the pod."
Pinky appears to be a Pink River Dolphin, a species that is classified as "endangered to vulnerable" with an estimated population in the tens of thousands. "I feel very fortunate to have seen this incredible mammal and lucky to be able to work and live in the area where such a fantastic creature frequents," said Rue. "Our guests are always thrilled at the opportunity to spot such a unique mammal and we look forward to it being around for some time to come."
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