(Oranjestad)—Monday afternoon, reports surfaced on social media that a group of dolphins had reached the coast near Palm Beach and Sarah-Quita Beach, where they were swimming so close to shore that one dolphin reportedly got stuck in the sand. The community and activists immediately reported the incident online, and the Aruba Conservation Foundation published a warning Tuesday urging people to keep their distance and help protect these mammals.
According to some sources, the case was first reported on Reddit, where it was reported that the incident happened unexpectedly. Shared images showed people helping some of the dolphins change direction and swim back out to sea.
Videos that appeared on social media also caught the community’s attention, and hundreds of people began sharing their theories about why a group of dolphins had appeared near our shores.
Aruba Today contacted the Aruba Marine Mammal Foundation for its expert opinion on what may have caused the incident. However, by the time this issue closed, no response had been received, possibly because the AMMF was actively working with ACF on site to help the mammals.
Although theories in the comments varied, many users agreed that this phenomenon is not a free attraction. The Aruba Conservation Foundation also emphasized the fragile condition the dolphins are in, and urged the community to keep their distance.
As ACF explained in its Facebook post, the dolphins are under a great deal of stress and need a calm environment in order to recover. Therefore, the organization emphasized that this is not an “attraction” or an opportunity to take pictures.
At the time of publication, it was reported that one dolphin was injured and that marine wildlife experts from ACF and AMMF were on site monitoring and assisting the situation. ACF clarified that one dolphin had been left behind and was having trouble keeping itself afloat in the water. For that reason, the team on site has been working in shifts to support the creature.
ACF is urging the community to do its part in this case and maintain a respectful distance from the area. This is especially relevant for people operating jet skis or boats, or practicing kiteboarding and windsurfing in the area. It is important to avoid loud noise, drones, and group activities near the area, since the dolphin needs a quiet and peaceful environment in order to recover. In addition, people are being asked not to enter the affected zone and to respect the instructions of the experts on site.
In the past, the Aruba Marine Mammal Foundation (AMMF) had explained that the shallow waters in areas such as Malmok, Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, Surfside, Southreef, Mangel Halto, and Roger’s Beach are coastal zones where dolphins may seek refuge when they are vulnerable or fleeing from threats in the sea. Dolphins that are weak, injured, exhausted, or nursing are often accompanied by others in these areas. That is why the organization warned that disturbing dolphins in such situations can be dangerous for both the animals and people. Hands-on help should be left to the experts.
