WATCH: Baby dolphin dies after being tossed around for selfies

Photo tweeted by @Animals1st

Argentina - The incident that reportedly took place at the beach resort town of Santa Teresita in Argentina last week, provoked widespread outrage from animal activists and celebrities.

In a shocking incident, an endangered baby dolphin lost its life after tourists yanked it out of the ocean and passed it around for selfies. In a video that emerged online, the dolphin can be seen lying motionless in the mud left to die, after being manhandled by beachgoers.
The incident that reportedly took place at the beach resort town of Santa Teresita in Argentina last week, provoked widespread outrage from animal activists and celebrities.
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There are just about 30,000 La Plata dolphins - also known as Franciscana dolphins - dolphins left in the world. They are only found in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. The only type of river dolphin to inhabit saltwater, Franciscana dolphins are categorized as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, according to the Washington Post. 
The Argentine Wildlife Foundation (AWF) issued a statement urging people to return dolphins encountered near the shore to ocean waters as they are extremely vulnerable.
"The potential for recovery of this species is very low," the AWF said. "The Franciscan, like other dolphins, can not long remain above water. It has a very thick and greasy skin that provides warmth, so the weather will quickly cause dehydration and death."
"This incident should serve to remind people about he need to return these dolphins to the sea if one is found outside of the water," the foundation's statement said. "It's fundamental that people help rescue these animals because every Franciscan has value."
 
Photo tweeted by @Animals1st
 
The dolphin was left on the sand after it died
Celebrities condemn the 'disgraceful' act 
Celebrities including comedians Ricky Gervais and Stephen Mangan, and Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby took to Twitter to condemn the actions of the beachgoers.

Episodes actor Mangan tweeted sarcastically: "Congrats to all involved."  

Congrats to all involved https://t.co/9kAXuhbtXg
- Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan) February 18, 2016

 
London-based band Real Lies say they are officially boycotting Argentina as a result of the incident.
 

We'll have our people look into it https://t.co/ha0G09LAMi
- Real Lies (@_real_lies) February 18, 2016

 
 

We are officially boycotting all live commitments in Argentina until the selfie-taking scum who killed that baby dolphin are held to account
- Real Lies (@_real_lies) February 18, 2016

 

Photo tweeted by @Animals1st

Nilanjana Gupta

• nilanjana@khaleejtimes.com