'Selfish' tourists blamed for baby dolphin death
- Published
Tourists touching the baby dolphin on the beach in southern Spain
A baby dolphin has died after it was surrounded by tourists looking to take photographs on a beach in southern Spain.
It had lost its mother and become stranded in shallow waters off the coast of Mojacar in Andalucia.
Tourists then began touching and photographing the animal rather than seeking help for it.
Equinac, a local NGO, said "selfishness" caused the dolphin "suffering and stress."
A member of Equinac holds the dolphin after it was recovered from the beach
The organisation, which works to protect marine wildlife in the area, wrote in a (in Spanish): "The animal was subjected to the curious who wanted to photograph and touch it."
"These animals are highly protected; to disturb them, to harm them, to manipulate them and to harass them is prohibited by law, and we always ask for respect and consideration."