Officials see hurt dolphin near Jones Beach

An adult dolphin was sighted swimming in circles on the bay side of Jones Beach Thursday, appearing sick and injured, officials said.

The mammal, estimated to be 51/2 to 6 feet long, was seen swimming erratically in waters about 20 feet deep by the number 2 Meadowbrook Bridge near the Jones Inlet, officials said.

Kim Durham, the rescue program director for the Riverhead Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting marine life, sent a team to evaluate the situation.

"We received a call from a recreational boater who reported a dolphin swimming in circles, and was described as seeing some bleeding" on the animal, Durham said. The dolphin appeared to be in distress." This type of mammal, a common dolphin, is rarely this close to shore or seen swimming without others.

But Durham said there is nothing those concerned can do at this point other than monitor the situation. "It's very frustrating," she said. "Had the animal been stranded, then our team was prepared to recover the animal and give it aid, but as it was free-swimming, all we could do was monitor the situation."

The Coast Guard, Nassau police marine officers and bay constables were alerted and asked to continue to keep an eye on the animal, Durham said.