Three dolphins have been found mysteriously stranded in different parts of the Jersey shore over the past week, officials said.
A “sub-adult” female bottlenose was found in Wildwood on June 22 and an adult male was spotted in Woodbridge on June 23, according to data from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.
A day later, a rare Risso’s dolphin, a male sub-adult, was found stranded at Seaside Park, the center reported.
The Wildwood dolphin was alive when discovered but died before Marine Mammal Stranding Center rescuers could arrive.
The Woodbridge dolphin also was stranded alive but died on the shore.
The Risso’s dolphin was found alive but had to be euthanized due to “poor body condition,” the center said.
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Risso’s dolphins are typically found in deeper water.
Necropsies on all three are pending.
“It’s not unusual. The old, the sick, and the injured wash in and that’s how it is. We don’t know the answer yet,” Sheila Dean, director of the center, told The Post.
Forty-three dolphins have been stranded at the Shore this year.
Several of the mammals had parasitic infections.
In March, a pod of eight dolphins died after they became stranded at Sea Isle City beach. Two died on the beach and the other six were euthanized.
