SEE IT: Photos of Chinese tourists posing with dying dolphin

A group of tourists on China's Sanya City beach have been accused of contributing to the death of a stranded dolphin by pulling it out of the water and posing with it in photographs.

Shocking pictures show the distressed mammal repeatedly lifted out of the water by a group of young men in Speedos, gleefully taking pictures of the creature with their iPhones.

While the photos show plenty of other tourists in the water, none of them appear to do anything about the men. Instead, they are seen queuing up, hoping for a chance to snap their own photos with the injured creature.

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The animal later died at a local marine park.

China's Hainan news portal reported that the official cause of the dolphin's death was from excessive bleeding from its tail, meaning it was likely struck by a fishing boat before it became stranded.

The photographs sent a ripple of shock waves across the Internet, with many blasting these yet-unidentified men "having no shame" and having complete disregard for wildlife.

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Others said the pictures are a prime example of "Chinese tourists' uncivilized habits."

According to Whale and Dolphin Conservation, stranded marine mammals should be approached with caution, and only after the proper authorities have first been contacted.

The dolphin should be placed on its belly, making sure water and debris do not come in contact with its blowhole, which it uses to breathe.

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Its skin should also be kept wet with sea water until help arrives.

No word yet if the tourists in question have been identified.

While the Asian country has in recent years developed laws to protect endangered species, there are no current laws that protect non-endangered species.

Source: http://feeds.nydailynews.com/~r/nydnrss/news/~3/FAxiZuEiWa0/story01.htm

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