A dolphin fights for life in a polluted canal in New York City.<br/> <br />The disorientated mammal was spotted on Friday (January 25) in the shallow waters of Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal.<br/> <br />But it died later in the day.<br/> <br />Witnesses said the dolphin struggled with the canal's muddy floor.<br/> <br />Biologists had been monitoring the animal, in the hope it would swim out at high tide.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: JULIKA WOCIAL, RESCUE PROGRAM SUPERVISOR, RIVERHEAD FOUNDATION FOR MARINE RESEARCH AND PRESERVATION AT LONG ISLAND AQUARIUM, SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"Any type of intervention, whether it's a rescue attempt or herding attempt or anything like that has to be really well thought of because in many situations it actually has a negative effect on the animal as opposed to a positive effect."<br/> <br />Local media say the dolphin will be examined to determine a cause of death.