Young dolphin that had just learned to live without its mother found dead on New Hampshire shore

A young dolphin belonging to a species that typically resides in the deep waters of the tropics was found dead on a beach in New Hampshire. Rescuers said the dolphin was so young that it had only recently weaned from nursing from its mother.

The animal was a striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, and was found on July 14. According to NOAA, striped dolphins "are among the most abundant and widespread dolphins in the world," but usually live in ocean waters in tropical to temperate regions. In the U.S., they are typically found along the West Coast, but they are known to go beyond their normal ranges. 

The Seacoast Science Center's Marine Mammal Rescue group said the animals "are not considered resident species" of New England, although they will "occasionally" be seen along the New Hampshire coast in the summer. Seeing them, however, is "uncommon."