A distressed bottlenose dolphin found stranded on a South Arm beach has been successfully returned to the ocean.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) recently received an early morning call about the young dolphin that had become stranded in the South Arm Marine Conservation Area.
Working alongside local surf club members and volunteers, rescuers located the dolphin they say had been swimming too close to shore.
Upon discovery, the dolphin was covered with a wet checkered shirt and a cotton sheet while a veterinarian watched on.
“The juvenile male bottlenose dolphin appeared in good health other than being stranded,” NRE said.
“Volunteers helped by pouring water on the dolphin to keep it cool until PWS Rangers arrived with specialist whale stranding equipment.”
Clifton Beach Surf Life Saving Club patrol members then helped to transport the dolphin out into deeper waters, where NRE staff released it back into its natural habitat.
To report a stranding or sighting of seals, whales or dolphins in Tasmania, call the whale hotline on 0427 942 537 (0427 WHALES).
