Baby Dolphin Hauled From Ocean by Teenager Looked Terrified in Photos, Found Dead Later

A teenager posed for a photo while carrying a baby dolphin. However, the snap sparked outrage because the sea creature was later found dead.

Terrified Dolphin and Bozo Teen

A 19-year-old boy, who wasn't named, hauled a dolphin from the water for an Instagram post. The mammal reportedly looked terrified, while one boy appeared to struggle while holding the animal, and another pal gave the finger to the camera.

The teenager, who is still unknown, posted before defending picking him up, calling its death an "accident" and a "once-in-a-lifetime" picture. However, the snap drew criticism, with one calling the person carrying the dolphin a "bozo" and "entitled punk" and another saying that he should be arrested for violating fishing regulations.

Marine biologists later confirmed that the calf discovered dead on Wednesday was the same one the young angler was posing for in the widely shared photograph circulating on social media. According to Dr. Quincy Gibson of the Dolphin Research Program at the University of North Florida, the proof can be found in the animal's dorsal fins.

After being included in the inquiry by regional wildlife officials, Gibson informed the North Florida publication that "the shape matches the one in the photo where the dolphin's being held." She also claimed that internal biology made marine animals prone to asphyxia if taken out of water, adding that "you can tell" that everyone believed it to be the case.

Gibson added that the photo was likely taken under the bridge, where the baby dolphin was found dead shortly after that.

Gibson's assertions were corroborated by another oceanologist and a nearby fisherman who said he had seen the teen's online post, leaving him livid.

The posts were removed, but not before they generated a lot of controversy and even a government investigation. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) leads the investigation, which has not yet produced any charges since Thursday.

Why Baby Dolphins Should Not Be Removed From the Water

Kevin Beaugrand, a resident from Jacksonville, said that carrying the baby dolphin out of the water was a "crime against nature."

A bystander also responded angrily to the teen, pointing out the common belief that dolphins are off-limits to any would-be angler since the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act protects them.

The stern response reminded everyone they should avoid sea creatures, including dolphins. The Federal Marina Mammal Protection Act forbids humans from bothering, hunting, capturing, or touching dolphins, whether alive or dead.

Additionally, as numerous experts have noted, dolphins like the bottlenose seen in both photographs rely on buoyancy to breathe; therefore, it becomes challenging for them to live when taken from their native underwater environment.

The teen in the photograph has not yet been charged. If charged, the guy could be subject to additional fines, a year in jail, and civil penalties of up to $34,457.

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