SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A dolphin that marine officials say beached itself in northwest Florida and was later released by
bystanders washed up dead on shore days later.

The Northwest Florida Daily News reported Monday the spotted dolphin beached itself Jan. 7
in Santa Rosa Beach. Two men spotted the dolphin floating upside down in shallow waters and guided it back out into the Gulf of
Mexico.

Marine officials say the dolphin washed up in a state of advanced decomposition on Friday. They say dolphins end up on a
beach when they are seriously ill or injured and their chances of survival are slim unless given medical care.

Marine officials say there are between 15 and 20 dolphin strandings a year in northwest Florida.


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