The Association for the Defense of Urban Trees, Biodiversity, and the Environment (DAUBMA) has reported to the Civil Guard the violent death of a bottlenose dolphin calf that occurred last Wednesday at Trampolín beach in Ceuta, and has requested the opening of proceedings to clarify the facts.
According to information provided by the organization in a statement, the dolphin arrived alive and disoriented on the shore, possibly due to the fog, and was subsequently pulled from the water and hit by several people. DAUBMA has stated that it has images and videos that, it claims, show how the cetacean was “grabbed, forcibly pulled from the water and hit on the head with a stick by several people”.
The organization has also pointed out that the animal had blood under one eye, and that in the recordings, some individuals can be seen attempting to clean the area, circumstances which, in their view, indicate a direct assault and subsequent manipulation of the corpse. DAUBMA has provided the Civil Guard with photographs, videos, and social media screenshots that would allow for the reconstruction of the sequence of events and the identification of the alleged perpetrators.
Furthermore, the association has reminded that the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a protected species and has stated that the facts could constitute a crime of animal cruelty resulting in death and a crime against protected wildlife. For this reason, it has called for the opening of proceedings, the identification of the individuals appearing in the recordings, the drafting of technical reports by the competent authorities, and the referral of the case to the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office.
DAUBMA has warned that the death of the dolphin represents an “extreme environmental severity” and has requested an immediate institutional response to prevent the case from going unpunished. The organization has indicated that it will continue to provide documentation and carry out administrative actions to promote the investigation. Finally, it has reiterated its commitment to the protection of marine wildlife and has demanded compliance with animal welfare legislation and European regulations on the protection of cetaceans.
Source: www.infobae.com
