Last Monday, the quick reaction of several volunteers saved a pod of 16 dolphins that had gotten stranded in an old fish trap near Powell River in Victoria, Canada. The Pacific white-sided dolphins had been chased onto the shore by a group of supposedly transient orcas who kept waiting around even when the tide was moving out and the dolphins were unable to move. The orcas only lost interest and left the scene when people rushed in to help the stranded animals.
About 19 people became involved in getting the dolphins back into the water, the majority from the local First Nation Tla’amin Nation. After the potentially harmful technique of pulling the animals out by their tails proved unsuccessful, tarps and blankets were used to carry the dolphins back into deeper water. By the time the official rescue teams arrived at the scene, most of the animals had already been refloated.
To make sure the rescued dolphins got away safely, the rescuers remained at the site to watch their departure. Founder of Whales and Dolphins BC, Susan MacKay, confirms that “they all got out, and they all grouped up and continued south, which was the opposite direction that the orca went in.” She applauds the rescuers for acting so quickly and getting the dolphins back into the water unharmed.
The full report can be found here: https://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/photos-residents-rescue-dolphins-stranded-near-powell-river
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