ORLEANS – A dolphin that stranded on an Orleans beach died even as a rescue team was on the way to help.
Orleans police reported the dolphin on Nauset Beach to the Yarmouth-based International Fund for Animal Welfare late Sunday morning.
Melanie Mahoney, IFAW’s wildlife rescue communications officer, said the marine mammal died before the recuse team could get to the scene.
A necropsy is planned to determine the cause of death.
Mahoney says it’s not unusual for a stranded marine animal to die quickly, especially if its health is compromised.