A dolphin rescued in Freetown has died.

Kathryn Rose, assistant stranding coordinator for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, told the Standard Times that the dolphin died after it was removed from the Assonet River on Saturday.

“We were able to safely remove the dolphin from the river and bring it to our rescue trailer, but unfortunately it began arching while we were trying to stabilize it and the dolphin died approximately 15 minutes later,’’ said Rose.

The bottlenose dolphin was described as being roughly nine-foot animal, and estimated to be about 20 years old.

It had been seen in the Assonet area for at least 24 hours.

Its usual habitat is found in the open water in the mid-Atlantic area and southward.

It was also been swimming in water that was brackish, as opposed to its usual salt water habitat.

Officials also expressed concern that the animal was thin, likely indicating that it had not been eating well.

Rose says a necropsy will be performed this week to help determine the cause of death.

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