A dolphin found stranded on Blooming Point Beach last October was determined to have been infested with parasites during a necropsy examination. Tonya Wimmer, the Marine Animal Response Society’s co-executive director and conservation director, revealed that the dolphin suffered from severe pneumonia due to a heavy lungworm infestation, impairing its ability to breathe properly.

The distressing discovery was made after a report of the stranded female common dolphin came in on the evening of October 10, 2025. Despite initial observations suggesting the dolphin was in decent condition, fisheries officials arrived an hour later to find the mammal alive but struggling to breathe.

Due to late hours, windy weather conditions, and safety concerns for humans, officials reluctantly opted to postpone intervention until the next day. Tragically, by the morning, the dolphin had passed away. The carcass was later retrieved by provincial staff and sent to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative for examination at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown.

During the necropsy, veterinarians discovered the dolphin was severely compromised, also harboring flatworms, or trematodes, in its ears, likely causing disorientation and contributing to its stranding. Wimmer emphasized the animal’s poor health condition, noting that various factors had led to its distress.

The incident raised concerns as dolphins typically travel in groups, making solitary discoveries troubling. Wimmer highlighted the importance of understanding wildlife disorientation and proper response protocols when encountering stranded animals, stressing the natural occurrence of such events and the public’s caring response towards animal welfare.