Durban — A young spinner dolphin swam back to its pod with the help of a rescue unit, marine ecologist, stranding team and lifeguards after it was stranded on a North Coast beach.
Start Rescue spokesperson Warren Brauns said that on Monday afternoon, their Ballito-based partner, Specialised Rescue Unit, received reports of a dolphin in distress and stranded off the Tinley Manor main beach.
He said that lifeguards were also alerted to attend the scene.
Upon arrival, the teams found a young spinner dolphin washed up on to the beach.
“Fortunately, there were no visible injuries or deformities to the animal other than minor rock abrasions,” Brauns said.
“Although its breathing rate was slightly elevated it still presented as healthy, just exhausted from being tumbled in the breakers over shallow rocks and the sandbank.”
Brauns said that teams immediately consulted the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife marine ecologist and the KZN Marine Stranding Network team and a decision to refloat the dolphin was taken.
Two rescue swimmers, assisted by a KwaDukuza lifeguard, swam the exhausted animal through the large surf to the backline.
“Once past the backline, the dolphin slowly swam off a short distance from the rescuers before increasing speed and swimming out to sea before joining up with the rest of its pod.”
At the end of July, it is alleged that a young humpback whale was shot dead after it was stranded near the Ifafa tidal pools.
Brauns said that at 10.45am on July 31, their teams were alerted to reports of a whale that had beached near the Ifafa tidal pools.
On arrival, it was established that a young whale, a humpback, had been washed over the rocks during the high tide.
“Members of the public had already started keeping the whale wet by placing wet towels and pouring buckets of water over it in an attempt to keep it alive,” Brauns said.
He said Start personnel made contact with local specialists from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the South African Association for Marine Biological Research who immediately made their way to the area.
“On the arrival of the specialist teams, they promptly assessed the young whale. Sadly, despite the tremendous efforts of the rescue teams, it was found that the young whale's airway had been compromised and a decision was made to humanely euthanise it,” Brauns said.
Daily News