Stranded Dolphin May Have Been 'Bullied'

The dolphin stranded in a shallow wetlands channel in California is still there, and one specialist says he may have been "bullied" into staying put. Rescue crews attempted to help the dolphin back into the open ocean Saturday, but a group of dolphins attacked it and forced it back into the nature reserve, the Los Angeles Times reports. "Dolphins can be very aggressive toward each other," the specialist says. "They’re not the sweet, loving, gentle animals portrayed by the movies and the cartoons. They do have a dark side."

But another expert says he doubts there's any "bullying in the dolphin world," and that the group of dolphins was likely just reacting to the unusual behavior of the stranded dolphin. He adds that the group will likely stay around the area, unwilling to leave without the stranded peer, and that "this can go on for days." Rescue crews have decided not to force the dolphin into another potential confrontation with the group, and are waiting to see if he will leave the wetlands on his own. (More Southern California stories.)