A postmortem examination on a dolphin discovered stranded on Blooming Point Beach in October revealed that the dolphin was heavily infested with parasites. Tonya Wimmer, who serves as the co-executive director and conservation director at the Marine Animal Response Society, stated that the dolphin suffered from severe pneumonia due to a significant lungworm infestation, which affected its breathing.
The stranded female common dolphin was reported on the evening of October 10, 2025, with witnesses initially thinking it was in decent condition. Fisheries officials arrived an hour later and found the dolphin alive but struggling to breathe. Due to late hours, windy conditions, and safety concerns, officials decided to leave the dolphin overnight to reassess the situation the next day. Unfortunately, by the following morning, the dolphin had passed away.
Provincial staff retrieved the carcass and transported it to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown for examination. The veterinarians conducted a necropsy and determined that the dolphin was in a compromised state.
Further investigation revealed that the dolphin had flatworms, known as trematodes or flukes, in its ears, which likely disoriented the animal and contributed to its stranding. Wimmer emphasized that the dolphin’s poor health was a result of multiple factors, leading to its inability to survive in the wild.
Wimmer expressed concerns over stranded dolphins, noting that they typically travel in groups and solitary sightings are alarming. She highlighted the importance of understanding how to react when encountering stranded wildlife to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Despite the sadness surrounding such events, Wimmer commended the caring and passionate response of individuals who are dedicated to animal welfare, emphasizing the natural aspects of these occurrences.