Migrants in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located in North Africa, have been filmed allegedly attacking a young dolphin, which may have led to its death, all while celebrating. The video shared online shows a group of men and boys joyfully holding what appears to be a baby bottlenose dolphin calf above their heads, cheered on by spectators nearby.
Reports indicate that the dolphin might have ventured too close to shore, prompting a group of men to pull it from El Trampolin beach. This display of celebration seemingly outraged local residents, who attempted to intervene during a confrontation.
One individual in the group was seen striking the dolphin with a stick, resulting in critical injuries to the creature. The audio captures conflicting reactions: shouts of “no” mixed with cheers from some bystanders, while others expressed concern for the marine animal’s welfare.
Eventually, someone returned the dolphin to the water. This incident has triggered a wave of anger among residents of Ceuta.
Nadia Garcia Gomez, in a social media post describing the events of September 2, 2026, stated that the dolphin calf appeared disoriented while swimming near the shore. She highlighted how the animal was treated like an object, subjected to violent blows that led to its immediate demise. Gomez has since initiated a petition calling for the arrest of those involved.
She condemned the actions of the migrants as an “extreme and unjustifiable cruelty,” emphasizing that dolphins are a protected species under both Spanish and European laws.
Residents have since rallied for prosecution and deportation of the migrants implicated in this incident. Ceuta has seen a significant increase in migrants crossing from Morocco, with over 70,000 attempting to breach the enclave’s borders in July. Despite most returning home, thousands have remained in the area.
Calls from locals for tougher measures from the central government in Madrid have grown louder, with recent actions including the destruction of migrant shelters on the beach.
