The Oceanogràfic Foundation Analyzes the Causes of Death of the Dolphin Stranded in Dénia

• Researchers and veterinarians from the Oceanogràfic are conducting the necessary tests to provide knowledge about the health of dolphin populations in the Mediterranean.
• Thanks to citizen collaboration, the Stranding Network protocol was correctly activated.

Valencia, August 2, 2017

Researchers and veterinarians from the Oceanogràfic Foundation have begun to analyze the possible causes that led to the death of the young striped dolphin, which appeared stranded last Tuesday on a beach in Dénia, in order to provide knowledge about the health status of the populations in the Mediterranean and the threats they currently face.

During the last few hours, scientists from the foundation have been performing the necessary tests on the young striped dolphin specimen, weighing 59 kilos and measuring 1.84 meters in length, with the required rigor to obtain more information about the causes of the animal’s death.

José Luis Crespo, head of the conservation area of the Oceanogràfic of Valencia, explained that “when an animal with these characteristics reaches the coast, it is usually because it has a serious health problem. Dolphins, unlike sea turtles, are animals that arrive very weak, dragged by the current, and, although in some cases it is possible to recover and treat them for reintroduction purposes, this is not always the case.”

“However,” he added, “our mission is always to evaluate and care for the animal at all times to minimize its suffering and try to recover it whenever possible. In cases like yesterday’s, in which the animal died shortly after arriving at the beach, the fundamental thing is to investigate the triggering causes of death.”

The Oceanogràfic of Valencia has positively assessed the citizen action thanks to which the notice could be received correctly. Throughout the year, the Stranding Network and the Oceanogràfic’s team of veterinarians are available for this type of situation in favor of marine fauna, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Awareness campaign on Valencian beaches

The Oceanogràfic of Valencia, together with the Red Cross, has been carrying out demonstrations during the past month on the beaches of Gandía, Oliva, Guardamar del Segura, Xàbia, Alcossebre and Nules, where citizens have been informed in a graphic and practical way about how they should act in the presence of a stranded animal, mainly sea turtles and dolphins. The members of the Oceanogràfic Foundation have also announced the biological richness of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the presence of certain emblematic species, and have made the general public aware of the main threats from human activity.

This citizen awareness campaign has been essential for the Stranding Network, formed by the Ministry of the Environment, the Oceanogràfic of Valencia and the Universitat de València, to be activated correctly yesterday, since with a call to 112, the veterinarians of the Oceanogràfic Foundation were able to travel to the place where the dolphin, a juvenile, was located on the beach of Dénia, to certify its death.