In Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, a group of migrants was caught on video allegedly causing the death of a young dolphin. The incident, which has sparked outrage, involved men and boys lifting a bottlenose dolphin calf triumphantly as bystanders cheered. The group reportedly pulled the dolphin from El Trampolin beach after it swam too close to the shore.

Local residents tried to intervene as tensions rose during the confrontation. According to reports, one individual struck the dolphin with a stick, inflicting fatal injuries. The video shows some people shouting “no” while others appeared disturbed by the scene. Afterward, a person placed the dolphin back into the water.

The community’s anger has been reflected in a petition initiated by Nadia Garcia Gomez, who demanded the arrest of those involved. She described the act as “extreme and unjustifiable cruelty” towards dolphins, which are protected under Spanish and European laws.

On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, a disoriented dolphin calf swimming near the shore at Trampolin Beach, in Ceuta, was brutally pulled from the water,” wrote Gomez. “Eyewitnesses and local media reported that the animal was handled as if it were an object and violently struck on the head with a stick, causing its immediate death.

This event occurred amid growing tensions in Ceuta, where a significant influx of migrants from Morocco has been reported. In July, over 70,000 migrants attempted to cross into Ceuta, leading to clashes and a strained situation. Although many returned home, thousands still remain in the area.

The local response has included calls for prosecution and expulsion of the involved individuals. Additionally, there has been public pressure on the central government in Madrid for tougher policies. Recent actions by locals included dismantling migrant shelters on the beach.