The quest for a cute animal selfie has ended tragically, after a crowd of tourists blindly manhandled a tiny dolphin to death.

An Argentine environmental organisation has confirmed a dolphin died after being mishandled by a large crowd of beachgoers in Buenos Aires.

A Franciscana dolphin, one of the smallest dolphins in the world, was picked out of the ocean and paraded around by a man, so camera-wielding tourists could take a closer look at the helpless animal.

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The incident occurred last week at a Buenos Aires resort, where two dolphins were reportedly yanked out of the ocean.

“At least one of the animals died,” a statement from the Argentine Wildlife Foundation said.

Pictures taken by onlooker Hernan Coria showed an eager crowd clamouring to take photos and touch the tiny dolphin.

But, like other dolphins, Franciscanas cannot remain out of water for long.

“They have very thick and greasy skin that provides warmth, so the weather will quickly cause dehydration and death,” the foundation said.

Franciscana dolphins are usually found in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, and are vulnerable to extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.