A dolphin found stranded on Blooming Point Beach in October last year underwent a necropsy revealing a severe parasite infestation. Tonya Wimmer, co-executive director of the Marine Animal Response Society, disclosed that the dolphin suffered from advanced pneumonia due to a heavy lungworm infestation, impacting its ability to breathe properly.
The distress call about the stranded female dolphin was received on the evening of October 10, 2025, with initial observers noting the animal appeared to be in relatively good condition. Despite efforts from fisheries officials arriving promptly, the dolphin was struggling to breathe and was left overnight due to safety concerns and adverse weather conditions. Unfortunately, by the following morning, the dolphin had passed away.
The deceased dolphin was taken to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative for further examination at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown. The necropsy revealed additional health issues, including flatworms known as trematodes in its ears, potentially disorienting the dolphin and contributing to its stranding.
Wimmer emphasized the significance of dolphins being social animals and the abnormality of finding one alone. The presence of parasites likely weakened the dolphin, preventing it from staying with its pod. She stressed the importance of understanding how to respond to wildlife strandings, highlighting the natural occurrence of such events and the compassion shown by individuals towards animals in distress.
