Rare Dolphin Killed After Being Passed Around For Selfies On Beach

This disturbing picture shows one of two Franciscana dolphins that were pulled from the water by bathers at an Argentinan resort and then passed around for pictures and petting. The crowd continues to manhandle the dolphins until one died and was just discarded on the sand by these thoughtless swimmers and beachgoers. The Franciscana dolphins have been diminishing in number.

One of those handling the dolphins insisted that the one left on the beach was already dead, though that makes these selfies even more creepy. Animal advocates insisted that “at least one of the intelligent, playful cetaceans died from the experience.” Those dozens of people took happy pictures of a dying dolphin just feet away from the water that would have save it.

The Franciscana, or La Plata, dolphins are particularly vulnerable outside of the water. Only around 30,000 of the La Plata dolphins remain in the wild and can live to be 20 years old. So long as they are not passed around like a gap prop for selfies.