On Sunday evening, a white-beaked dolphin was stranded near the coast of Egmond aan Zee. This kind of dolphin rarely strands in the Netherlands.
The dolphin was found by people walking on the beach. They called for help. The animal was carefully moved out of the water and covered in wet cloths.
Later, the dolphin was taken to the rescue center of SOS Dolfijn in Anna Paulowna. A veterinarian checked the animal. At first sight, the dolphin does not seem to be injured or unable to breathe.
It is a male dolphin, about 237 centimeters long and weighing around 140 kilograms. The dolphin is dehydrated and is now being supported in a pool by volunteers, SOS Dolfijn said.
The dolphin needs time to get stronger. Blood tests are being done to learn more about his health. The situation is still uncertain.
Experts say it is not a good idea to push a stranded dolphin back into the sea. Often, the animal is sick or weak, and may strand again.
White-beaked dolphins live mainly in the northern Atlantic Ocean and also in the North Sea. In recent years, only a few of these dolphins have been found in the Netherlands.
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