Misguided dolphin in New York canal dies hours after swimming in polluted waters (Video)

A “wayward” dolphin that swan into a heavily polluted New York canal on Friday has died for reasons yet to be confirmed.

According to a January 25,2013 report, the dolphin made its way into Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal. The Associated Press issued a news report around 5:30 pm, stating. “Wayward dolphin makes splash in polluted NYC canal”. Two hours later, the AP released a less jovial follow-up headline stating, “Wayward dolphin dies in polluted NYC canal”.

According to an AP report, NYPD said marine experts from The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation were going to attempt to save the dolphin Saturday morning if it was still in the canal. The experts had hoped the animal would make it out when the high tide came in, but it died shortly before the 7:10 high tide.

A common dolphin struggles in a section of the Gowanus Canal after getting stuck on January 25, 2013 in Brooklyn borough of New York City.

Photo credit: 

Michael Heiman/Getty Images

At around 5:50 pm , The Riverhead Foundation’s Facebook page made a statement regarding the dolphin:

The RFMRP team is assessing this location to determine if there is a way to safely extricate the animal. Stay tuned for details.

The comment on their post show how enraged people are regarding the handling of the dolphin in the polluted waters, commonly referred to as The Lavender Lake because of its interesting color.

As the dolphin swam around the greasy pollution filled waters, helicopters reportedly flew overhead and filmed people standing by the sea wall snapping pictures and taking video of a seemingly happy dolphin. That happiness has turned to disgust just a few hours later

At one point, the animal was swimming with a mound of black gunk stuck to its snout.

Critics of The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation feel that the entire episode was not handled correctly. One Facebopok user threatened to stop supporting them because of their lack of effort in saving the animal.

Another user states:

Nice going on NOT rescuing that Dolphin! You people are a waste of time and money. LOSERS!

RFMRP has not released a follow up statement regarding the death of the animal.

The cause of the animal’s death has yet to be announced.