The NSRI and various other teams jumped in to help two dolphins that were stranded at Sandy Bay in Cape Town on 28 July.
TMNP (Table Mountain National Parks) rangers, Cape of Good Hope SPCA Inspectors, and City of Cape Town Marine Animal Stranding Network (CTMASN) were activated.
NSRI Hout Bay duty crew and NSRI Bakoven duty crew were placed on alert.
Both dolphins were carried into the surf using specialised stretchers, where the dolphins were floated. NSRI rescue swimmers, from NSRI Hout Bay and NSRI Bakoven, assisted by a Marine and Coastal Management officer, corralled both of the dolphins through the surf line, swimming them to deeper water, and at the backline breakers, the dolphins were released into deeper water.
‘Our NSRI Bakoven rescue craft, Gemini Legend, followed the dolphins for a while as they headed in the direction of Hout Bay. The dolphins appear to be healthy and swim strongly,’ David Rosenberg, NSRI Bakoven deputy station commander, said.
‘While we are cautiously optimistic that the rescue has been successful the coastline will continue to be monitored over the next few days but hopes remain that the dolphins do not beach again.’
The reason for the stranding is unconfirmed.
Pictures: Cape of Good Hope SPCA
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