some positive news for a change - Dolphin rescues whales

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Conservation worker: New Zealand dolphin guides stranded whales to sea safety

 

A playful New Zealand dolphin that spends much of its time swimming round humans

has amazed conservation workers by guiding two distressed whales away from

likely death on the beach and back to the sea.

 

The dolphin led the two pygmy sperm whales 200 meters (yards) along the beach

and through a channel out to the open sea, Department of Conservation worker

Malcolm Smith said Wednesday.

 

The two whales, a mother and her young calf, were found stranded on Mahia Beach,

on North Island's east coast Monday morning, Smith said.

 

" We worked for over an hour to try to get them back out to sea ... but they kept

getting disorientated and stranding again " after swimming into a large sandbar

just off the shore, he said.

 

" They obviously couldn't find their way back past it to the sea, " Smith said.

 

Four attempts by volunteers to refloat the pair failed and it was becoming

highly likely they would have to be euthanized, he said.

 

Then the dolphin, named Moko by local residents, swam up.

 

" It was looking like it was going to be a bad outcome for the whales which was

very disappointing and then Moko just came along and fixed it. "

 

Smith said it was quite possible Moko had heard the whales calling.

 

" The whales were ... quite distressed. They had arched their backs and were

calling to one another, but as soon as the dolphin turned up they submerged into

the water and followed her, " he said

 

" She obviously gave them enough guidance to leave the area because we haven't

seen them since, " Smith said. " The things that happen in nature never cease to

amaze me. "

 

Moko returned to the beach shortly afterward. The playful dolphin swam straight

back close to shore and joined in water games with local residents, he added.