Chinese authorities looking for man who walked off beach carrying a dolphin

Authorities in China are looking for a man filmed carrying a dolphin off a beach.

According to the BBC witnesses, the animal had been found stranded on a beach in Hailing island, and appeared to be dying.

The footage, filmed during China’s three-day labour holiday on May 1, was taken at the popular tourist hotspot in Guangdong province.

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The man was filmed calmly walking along the beach in a swimsuit with the dolphin’s apparently lifeless body thrown over his shoulder. He then allegedly drove off with the dolphin in his car, reports the South China Morning Post.

A local fishery authority official, whose full name was not given, told the website: “We received reports from witnesses saying there was a dolphin that had got stranded on the beach and looked like it was about to die when it was found.

“The man, thought to be a tourist on the island, was then seen to have carried the dolphin away on his car … he will be punished when he is identified.

“Dolphins are protected animals [in China]. Whether it was dead or alive, he should have called the authorities for help.”

Numerous species of dolphin are endangered. Experts “consider one species native to China, for example, to be functionally extinct,” says Vice News.

People commenting on Chinese social media have been criticising the man's actions, says the BBC.

“I don't even know what punishment is in order for someone who did something like this,” one Weibo user reportedly said.

“If you're so capable, go steal a shark from the sea and lets see what happens. Leave the dolphins alone,” another user added.