Man’s ‘heroic’ beachside rescue sparks warning to Aussies
Experts are warning the public there's a very good reason why people shouldn't try and return beached dolphins to the ocean.
A group of beachgoers have been described as “heroes” after they were seen running to help a stranded dolphin. Images taken hundreds of metres away by a wildlife photographer highlight the dramatic three-minute ordeal.
Aussie photographer David Parry was out looking for osprey and sea eagles on Sunday morning when he saw the commotion unfolding on Forresters Beach, 55 km north of Sydney.
“It was fairly rough out there. I looked across the beach and the gathering of a group of people caught my attention. I had concerns there could be a swimmer in trouble,” he told Yahoo News.
“Then I spotted the dolphin beached on the sand.”
Too far away to intervene himself, Parry was impressed by the bravery of men entering the freezing water. Experts believe the animal helped back into the water was a short-beaked common dolphin — an abundant and federally protected species.
After Parry’s dramatic photographs showing the drenched rescuers were shared online, Central Coast locals showered the rescuers with adulation for their efforts to push the dolphin back into the water. “Well done! Amazing,” one person wrote. “Thank you for saving this little one,” another said.
Related: Tourists blasted after chaotic scenes following whale beaching
Warning about trying to help stranded dolphins
While it’s unknown whether those involved in the rescue were trained, the encounter has prompted experts to remind the public they should not interfere with stranded dolphins and need to instead call for help. That’s because simply sending them back into the ocean can create a bigger problem for the animal.
Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) is a non-profit that works with the NSW Government to help stranded marine mammals. It told Yahoo beaching is often a sign there is something wrong with the animal and it needs medical attention.
Problems could include illness, plastic or fishing gear ingestion, or even an injury caused by a predator bite or ship strike. And once a dolphin beaches itself once, without proper assistance it will often repeat the behaviour.
“It’s a bit of a tricky one. People want to do the right thing, but it could ultimately result in the demise of the animal,” ORRCA’s Sharon Coffee said.
“There’s a lot more involved than simply pushing it back in and thinking that you’ve saved it.”
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Why refloating beached dolphins can take hours
While it’s believed the animal on Forresters Beach had not been there for long, when it comes to animals that have beached for a prolonged period they require even more specialised care.
“When we refloat a dolphin it takes hours. Because when the animal is on the sand, pressure is put on its organs, and the lactic acid builds up in their body.
“They actually have to be floated in the water for hours or a whole day, until they can get their muscles working again.”
In Australia, cetaceans including common species of whales and dolphins are protected. You can find information about who to contact in your state or territory here.
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