Friday, July 18, 2025

Beached dolphin rescue a win for Puerto Progreso’s ‘Eco Police’ force

The headline in one Mexican newspaper screamed “¡Heróes!” following their rescue of a beached dolphin in Progreso, Yucatán, this week.

The relatively new Progreso Ecological Police rescue unit responded quickly after receiving an emergency call Thursday afternoon, saying that a dolphin was in the sand along the International Malecón, or beachside promenade.

Reportedly measuring 2.7 meters (9 feet) and weighing 100 kilograms (220 pounds), the dolphin was initially kept alive by the responding Ecological Police officers, then subsequently carried back into the sea by specialized personnel from the Autonomous University of Yucatán (UADY).

The stranded dolphin attracted a crowd of onlookers at Progreso, Yucatan’s Malecon promenade.

All the while, dozens of people surrounded the mammal and the rescue crew to observe the scene.

According to the newspaper Milenio, it’s believed the dolphin ended up on the northern Yucatán beach, on the shores of the Gulf of México, due to the effects of Cold Front 27, which had prompted Yucatán’s Civil Protection to keep all fishing boats and small crafts from heading out to sea from most ports in the area, including Progreso, Celestún and Río Lagartos, the Yucatán Times reported.

The front is expected to generate heavy rains and swells of 1 to 3 meters along the Yucatán coast on Thursday and Friday, the Times reported, according to Mexico’s National Meteorological Service.

The Progreso Ecological Police, formed in 2019, is the first entity of its kind in the state. Under the command of the municipal police department, it was founded with a staff of 28 people — 14 per shift — and two boats, four ATVs, six motorcycles, four bicycles, and video and radio communication equipment.

Much of its mission is geared toward maintaining a clean beachfront and raising awareness about environmental issues. It has the authority to issue warnings or citations, or even make arrests, if someone litters, burns garbage or discharges debris or harmful liquids into waterways or onto the street.

Looks like its personnel are good at saving dolphins too.

With reports from Milenio and ProgresoHoy

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
A man stands by an open suitcase in an airport revision area

Foreign national caught with over a million pesos of ketamine in Cancún airport

0
Officials confiscated 2 kilograms of ketamine, a controlled substance in Mexico.
two people walkin gby a for rent sign

Can rent control stop gentrification? Mexico City officials plan to find out

9
Political leaders in the nation's capital have reached into their anti-gentrification toolkit and come up with an approach that goes straight to the heart of the problem.
cell phone with Uber

Mexican authorities slam Uber’s price hike: ‘Unilateral and irresponsible’

2
The ride-hailing app insists that the rise is necessary after recent labor reforms gave its drivers full employee rights, including IMSS membership.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity