Rescue efforts for an injured dolphin ended in vain when the animal died Wednesday night at the Universidad Nacional (UNA) Veterinary School after being flown there by beachgoers in the northwestern Guanacaste beach of Tamarindo.

The dolphin, which was found washed up on the beach Wednesday morning, died from “various sicknesses,” the statement said. Blood tests showed it was carrying brucellosis, an infection common in livestock that can be transmitted to other animals and human beings.

It also suffered a fractured palate, which veterinarians believe could have been caused when it hit against rocks on the beach.

The dolphin remains at the school's pathology unit, where veterinary students are studying its body to see if it suffered from any other ailments.

Urs Schmid of Capitán Suizo Hotel flew with the dolphin Wednesday aboard a Nature Air flight to Tobias Bolaños International Airport in the western suburb of Pavas; from there it was transported to UNA's Veterinary School.

-Tico Times