Eight dolphins dead after washing ashore in New Jersey

The Marina Mammal Stranding Center, a nonprofit group based in New Jersey that rescues and rehabilitates stranded marine mammals, reported the incident on Tuesday. The aquatic animals, called Common dolphins, beached themselves in Sea Isle City, about 30 miles (50km) south of Atlantic City.

The reason for the stranding was unclear.

The deaths come about a week after the group reported that two other dolphins died after washing ashore on a sandbar in Sandy Hook Bay, New Jersey, about 50 miles (80km) south of New York City. The animals are not considered endangered.

The group said on Facebook that two of the creatures had initially died and the other six were euthanised "to prevent further suffering”.

A veterinarian with the group determined that returning the animals to the ocean would only prolong their deaths.

A spokesperson for the nonprofit group was unavailable for comment on Wednesday by telephone or email.

All eight of the dolphins were taken to the laboratory for necropsies.

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Jonathan Oatis.)