Green Jersey

Stranded dolphin had pneumonia

The dolphin that was found dead yesterday in Fair Haven had pneumonia. The illness was likely a factor in its death, according to Teri Frady, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (via the Asbury Park Press).

The young female dolphin was part of a group that had swam the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers since June, according to officials. Her death increased pressure on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help the dolphins get safely to the open ocean.

Bob Schoelkopf, director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, says the animals must be helped to relocate before the weather gets cold. Frady says that NOAA officials believe intervention comes with a high risk of injury or stranding. The NOAA has overseen two attempts to move dolphins from the Navesink River that has ended in their deaths, according to the Star-Ledger, which had this video:

More: Dolphin may have died of pneumonia (Red Bank Green)