Large Bottlenose Dolphin Stranded on Brigantine Beach — Sadly Euthanized

Large Bottlenose Dolphin Stranded on Brigantine Beach — Sadly Euthanized

This morning (June 10) on the North End of Brigantine, a large offshore bottlenose dolphin was found stranded in the surf.

Despite a massive team effort to save the animal, experts made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the dolphin due to her extremely poor condition.

According to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, the call came in at 8:30 a.m. after a Good Samaritan spotted the dolphin struggling in the waves. That individual stayed on site to help keep the dolphin upright until trained responders arrived.

When the team from MMSC arrived—along with local Certified Stranding Volunteers—they identified the dolphin as an offshore bottlenose, a species typically found far off the coast along the continental shelf. This one was a large female, nearly nine feet long and over 500 pounds, but described as “very thin” and “unusually lethargic.”

Even with help on hand, the dolphin was too heavy to be moved easily. That’s when the Brigantine Fire Department stepped in, working alongside the MMSC crew to secure her in a stretcher.

But the turning point came thanks to Hal from Walters Marine Construction, who happened to be working nearby.

Realizing the team needed extra muscle, Hal used his front-end loader to gently lift the dolphin—still secured in the stretcher—and move her safely into MMSC’s Stranding Response Vehicle.

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Unfortunately, once she arrived at the Stranding Center, things took a turn. Medical assessments confirmed the dolphin’s breathing was labored and she remained unresponsive, even when handled. Experts determined her prognosis was grim.

“The impact of stranding on cetaceans like dolphins and whales is traumatic,” the MMSC said. “Out of water, their own body weight crushes their internal organs, and that greatly lowers the chance of survival.”

Because the initial stranding wasn’t witnessed, no one knows how long she had been lying on the beach. Sadly, trying to push her back into the ocean would have only extended her suffering.

The team made the humane decision to euthanize the dolphin on site.

She was then transported to the Animal Health Diagnostic Lab (New Jersey Dept. of Agriculture) in Trenton, where a full necropsy will be performed. The results will be shared on the MMSC website once available: mmsc.org/current-cetacean-data

While the outcome wasn’t what anyone had hoped for, the MMSC shared a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the rescue—including Hal from Walters Marine, the Brigantine Fire Department, volunteers Jim and Maggie C., and Good Samaritan Joe C.

“Seeing so many people come together to support this dolphin in her final moments was inspiring,” they said. “In death, she will still contribute to the scientific knowledge of her species and may help prevent future strandings.”