Hurricane Sally killed six dolphins, throwing them into a swamp

Six dolphins have died after being stranded in a coastal swamp in Alabama as a result of hurricane Sally. According to information provided by the Dauphin island marine laboratory, this is the first mass release of its kind in the state.

The incident was reported by one of the surfers who rode in Graveline Bay.

Arrived experts investigated the scene. Most of the six Atlantic spotted dolphins (all females) lay hidden from view by the tall swamp grass.

The animal remains were taken to the marine mammal research center, which itself was badly damaged during the storm. Examination showed that the dolphins could remain alive for several days.

"The main finding during the survey was an almost empty stomach, which indicated that the animals had not eaten recently," says Jennifer Bloodgood. Unfortunately, the decomposition of the tissues limits our ability to interpret it."

According to the coordinator of the organization ALMMSN Mackenzie Russell, dolphins most likely hit the Mississippi Strait during a hurricane after being disoriented in the Persian Gulf.

Atlantic spotted dolphins are commonly found along the continental shelf and in deeper waters off the coast. They are smaller than the bottlenose dolphins usually found in coastal waters, and are rarely washed ashore. The last documented episode of an outlier in Alabama occurred in January 2018.