“Humans are the most irrational animal there is. Many people are unable to feel empathy for a living being which is frightened, starving hungry, without its mother,” they posted on Facebook [translated].

“In their selfishness, all they want to do is photograph it and touch it, even if the animals is suffering from stress.

“The photographs showed children touching the animal, unintentionally covering its blowhole.”

The organisation clarified in a follow-up post: “We did not say that the bathers were responsible for their stranding.

“This calf beached for being sick or losing her mother, without which she can't survive, but photographing and touching causes these animals to enter a very high state of stress.

“Let us remind everyone that these animals are highly protected; to disturb them, to harm them and to manipulate them is prohibited by law, and we always ask for respect and consideration.”