Young dolphin rescued at Catalan Bay

A bloodied young striped dolphin was rescued in dramatic fashion after being battered against the rocks in stormy conditions at Catalan Bay on Boxing Day.

Concerned citizens plunged into the winter sea, braving the strong currents and large waves to move the dolphin to a safe location away from the rocks.

Members of the public tried to guide the animal out to sea but the dolphin, believed to be around four to five years old, was unable to escape the surf.

A spokesman from the Department of the Environment said yesterday that its officers assessed the injuries on the dolphin on arrival before it was eventually released.

“Although showing signs of stress, the animal was breathing well and showed no life threatening injuries, prompting the officers to release the animal as soon as possible,” he said. “The dolphin did however have numerous superficial wounds.”

The spokesman said that conditions on the east side did not allow for a marine based deployment, so it was taken to the department’s marine base.

“Custom’s officers were quick to assist and the dolphin was released successfully using one of their ribs,” he said. “The department continued to monitor the dolphin after its release to ensure it was coping well.”

The spokesman also thanked all members of the public who reported the incident and took responsible action to save the dolphin's life.