Watch CBS News

Dolphin Dies Hours After Beaching Itself In Far Rockaway

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A dolphin that washed up on the shore in Far Rockaway Friday morning has died.

Animal rescue crews removed the dolphin that beached itself near O'Donohue Park in Far Rockaway.

The 5-foot female dolphin was found around 9:30 a.m. Police were called to the scene and splashed water on the dolphin to keep it alive until rescuers arrived.

Three hours after it washed up on shore, the dolphin was removed by members of the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation and taken to their facility on Long Island for treatment.

The dolphin later died at the facility.

A necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Rob DiGiovanni, Executive Director and Senior Biologist at the Riverhead Foundation told 1010 WINS the dolphin might have been sick for some time.

DiGiovanni also said less than 10 percent of dolphins that wash up on the beach survive.

Back in June, a wayward dolphin was found dead near Chelsea Piers.

More recently, there have been sightings of whales in the area. Flickr user Knightmare6 uploaded several photos of a Humpback whale "waving" its tail off Rockaway Beach on Sept. 16. In August, another whale was spotted near Breezy Point.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.