During a routine check at Es Caló des Moro, a small but troubling event unfolded around a group of Italian visitors. A seahorse was pulled from the water and passed among them as if it were a toy. They then buried the animal in the sand. A veteran lifeguard later recounted that the group appeared unaware of the animal’s distress, and the incident quickly shifted from a simple act of misjudgment to a matter of animal welfare and potential law enforcement. The narrative for this case includes the first-hand accounts collected by the Local Police and the immediacy of the beach’s rescue crew, who attempted to intervene and document the sequence of events for possible disciplinary action. The group’s behavior prompted a formal response from municipal authorities and the Balearic Government Environmental Service for a full review of the circumstances. The incident occurred on August 12, prompting the lifeguard to notify police as a precautionary measure. The term “they” refers to the group of tourists involved, whose actions were later described in official reports as playing a game with the animal until it died and then burying it in the sand. [Citation: Local Police report]
According to the initial statements from witnesses, including an 11-year-old girl who tried to save the seahorse, the fish was pulled from the sand and placed back into the sea while attempts were made to revive it. By the time authorities arrived, the seahorse had already died. The regional beach unit interviewed witnesses who described a sequence in which the animal was passed among the group before dying. The officers noted the intervention by the Sant Antoni City Council’s agents and highlighted that the group claimed the seahorse had died while swimming on the beach, though they did not specify why the chain of actions occurred. [Citation: Local Police report]
In response to the events, the police prepared a report for the Balearic Government Environmental Service. The objective was to determine whether disciplinary proceedings were warranted and to commence appropriate procedures. This case underscores the responsibility of visitors to respect wildlife and the importance of swift reporting when wildlife appears distressed or harmed. [Citation: Local Police report]
Autopsy
The available information notes that the seahorse remained under the custody of the beach’s rescue and first aid team. The specimen was handed to an oceanographer who conducted a post-mortem analysis and concluded that the animal appeared healthy prior to the incident. The expectation is that the seahorse drowned during the moment it was pulled from the water, not due to a preexisting condition. [Citation: Oceanographer report]
Two species of seahorses inhabit the waters around the Balearic Islands: Hippocampus hippocampus and Hippocampus guttulatus, commonly referred to as the Mediterranean seahorse. These creatures can be observed more easily in shallower zones among seaweed beds and meadows of seagrass. The presence of both species in local waters adds to the importance of safeguarding their habitat, particularly in areas frequented by tourists. [Citation: Marine biodiversity records]
Seahorses are protected within many jurisdictions because they face intense pressure from illegal wildlife trade. Roughly millions are extracted each year to supply demand in some markets that prize their dried forms for traditional uses. These practices, rooted in antiquated beliefs about medicinal properties, threaten wild populations and disrupt ecosystems. The idea that seahorses, like several other small marine species, are valued as curios or souvenirs has long been a concern for conservation groups. [Citation: Wildlife protection agencies]
Alongside poaching risks, the broader family that includes seahorses and pipefishes—syngnathids—suffers from climate change and habitat loss. Coastal development and increasing human activity alter breeding grounds and shelter areas, stressing these species further. The case at Es Caló des Moro highlights the need for careful interaction with marine life and stronger education about coastal stewardship for visitors. [Citation: Environmental impact assessments]