Baby dolphin rescued

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Quick action by volunteers from Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (Smart) and lifeguards led to the successful rescue of a baby dolphin that stranded at Bayview Beach on Thursday afternoon, 8 January.

According to Smart, the organisation was alerted at around 12:30 after reports were received of a young dolphin stranded on the shoreline.

Smart says on its Instagram page, dedicated volunteers immediately responded to the scene and, with the assistance of lifeguards on duty, worked together to safely return the dolphin to the ocean.

“The calf showed strong signs of life, including tail movement and vocalising to call for its mother,” said a Smart representative.

“Those signs were very encouraging and indicated that the animal possibly had a good chance of survival."

“We are hopeful that the young dolphin has been reunited with its mother and that it will not strand again,” Smart said.

The organisation expressed its gratitude to volunteers Elzan Coetsee, Ursula Viljoen Sutherland and Maruschka Maree, as well as the lifeguards involved, for their teamwork and calm response, which ensured a positive outcome.

Members of the public are urged not to attempt rescues themselves, but to contact trained rescue organisations immediate.

Call Smart on 072 227 4715.