The handling of a dolphin carcass washed up ashore in Ventura raised eyebrows Sunday, and the harbormaster said the agency is now reviewing its procedures.
Around 3 p.m. Sunday, lifeguards towed away the carcass by tying it up to the back of a truck and dragging it to a less populated area of Ventura Harbor beach.
Beachgoer Justin Avila said he and others thought it strange that the dolphin was dragged away rather than placed in the back of the pickup truck.
John Higgins, Ventura Harbor Patrol harbormaster, said the dolphin was causing a fairly large disturbance and that the single lifeguard responsible for the area had been inundated with requests to do something about it.
The lifeguard contacted her state parks supervisor, who in turn contacted the harbor patrol.
He said the animal was towed 100 yards down the beach from where it washed ashore, for public safety.
He said they made the decision to not use the bed of the truck to transport the animal because the same truck is used for human transport and it would have required a decontamination afterward, which would have taken the truck out of service.
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He added that the harbor patrol did not intend to be disrespectful and didn’t want to leave the dolphin. They may do things differently in the future and will look at more sensitive ways to remove animal remains, Higgins said.
