Friendly dolphin saves two stranded whales

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/1...s.ap/index.html

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- A dolphin swam up to two distressed whales that appeared headed for death in a beach stranding in New Zealand and guided them to safety, witnesses said Wednesday.

The actions of the bottlenose dolphin -- named Moko by residents who said it spends much of its time swimming playfully with humans at the beach -- amazed would-be rescuers and an expert who said they were evidence of the species' friendly nature.

The two pygmy sperm whales, a mother and her calf, were found stranded on Mahia Beach, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) northeast of the capital of Wellington, on Monday morning, said Conservation Department worker Malcolm Smith.

Rescuers worked for more than one hour to get the whales back into the water, only to see them strand themselves four times on a sandbar slightly out to sea. It looked likely the whales would have to be euthanized to prevent them suffering a prolonged death, Smith said.

"They kept getting disorientated and stranding again," said Smith, who was among the rescuers. "They obviously couldn't find their way back past (the sandbar) to the sea."

Along came Moko, who approached the whales and led them 200 meters (yards) along the beach and through a channel out to the open sea. Watch how dolphin became a hero »

"Moko just came flying through the water and pushed in between us and the whales," Juanita Symes, another rescuer, told The Associated Press. "She got them to head toward the hill, where the channel is. It was an amazing experience. The best day of my life."

Anton van Helden, a marine mammals expert at New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, said the reports of Moko's rescue were "fantastic" but believable because the dolphins have "a great capacity for altruistic activities."

These included evidence of dolphins protecting people lost at sea, and their playfulness with other animals.

"We've seen bottlenose dolphins getting lifted up on the noses of humpback whales and getting flicked out of the water just for fun," van Helden said.

"But it's the first time I've heard of an inter-species refloating technique. I think that's wonderful," said van Helden, who was not involved in the rescue but spoke afterward to Smith.

Smith speculated that Moko responded after hearing the whales' distress calls.

"It was looking like it was going to be a bad outcome for the whales ... then Moko just came along and fixed it," he said. "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."

After the rescue, Moko returned to the beach and joined in games with local residents, he said

[SteveLaura 0]

Obviously a Canadian dolphin, leading the innocent whales north to their impending doom...

[Ban Hammer 13,641]

Obviously a Canadian dolphin, leading the innocent whales north to their impending doom...

[MissStacey 1]

That is so awesome. I love dolphins and whales. There is nothing more spectacular that seeing dolphins and whales swimming around and playing in the ocean.

[almaty 19]

bravo for flipper..i like whales and dolphins..well, i do not like killer whales

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

That is so awesome. I love dolphins and whales. There is nothing more spectacular that seeing dolphins and whales swimming around and playing in the ocean.

Me, too. I love when they investigate. I was snorkeling on a dive trip a couple years back when a pod of dolphins started checking me out. They were zipping all around me. It was really cool.

Another time, we were up in the marsh south of New Orleans when a dolphin appeared by the boat. We stopped fishing and started messing with the dolphin. I was hanging over the front of the boat, about a foot from the water when it "blew" right behind me. It scared the ####### out of me but made for a hearty laugh.

I wonder if I could teach a sloth to ride a dolphin.

[MissStacey 1]

That is so awesome. I love dolphins and whales. There is nothing more spectacular that seeing dolphins and whales swimming around and playing in the ocean.

Me, too. I love when they investigate. I was snorkeling on a dive trip a couple years back when a pod of dolphins started checking me out. They were zipping all around me. It was really cool.

Another time, we were up in the marsh south of New Orleans when a dolphin appeared by the boat. We stopped fishing and started messing with the dolphin. I was hanging over the front of the boat, about a foot from the water when it "blew" right behind me. It scared the ####### out of me but made for a hearty laugh.

I wonder if I could teach a sloth to ride a dolphin.

We were in Grande Isle a few months ago and there was a dolphin that came by the dock every morning. He would swim around for a while and then take off.

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

That is so awesome. I love dolphins and whales. There is nothing more spectacular that seeing dolphins and whales swimming around and playing in the ocean.

Me, too. I love when they investigate. I was snorkeling on a dive trip a couple years back when a pod of dolphins started checking me out. They were zipping all around me. It was really cool.

Another time, we were up in the marsh south of New Orleans when a dolphin appeared by the boat. We stopped fishing and started messing with the dolphin. I was hanging over the front of the boat, about a foot from the water when it "blew" right behind me. It scared the ####### out of me but made for a hearty laugh.

I wonder if I could teach a sloth to ride a dolphin.

We were in Grande Isle a few months ago and there was a dolphin that came by the dock every morning. He would swim around for a while and then take off.

They can be really funny. We had a camp in Leeville (on the way to grande isle). I was on the dock one day and saw a dolphin swimming around with a rock on it's head. It was really funny, like a kid trying to balance a broomstick. I've always said that if I wasn't a human, I'd want to be a dolphin. I love the ocean and I'd still get to be altruistic. I'd have to keep my eye out for the gay dolphins, though.

[SteveLaura 0]

You're not fooling anyone, you know. We know your agenda.

[almaty 19]

You're not fooling anyone, you know. We know your agenda.

canada!

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

You're not fooling anyone, you know. We know your agenda.

You can call me Clubber.

[SteveLaura 0]

You're not fooling anyone, you know. We know your agenda.

You can call me Clubber.

This is how rumours start, you know.

I just read that AnewKINDofFEELIN clubs seals. Where's the outrage? I'm PMing Ewok to have the Canada Forum shut down immediately.

[almaty 19]

You're not fooling anyone, you know. We know your agenda.

You can call me Clubber.

This is how rumours start, you know.

I just read that AnewKINDofFEELIN clubs seals. Where's the outrage? I'm PMing Ewok to have the Canada Forum shut down immediately.

terrible,. the poor seals, where is PETA and Greenpeace at, when you really need them?

Edited March 12, 2008 by almaty

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

You're not fooling anyone, you know. We know your agenda.

You can call me Clubber.

This is how rumours start, you know.

I just read that AnewKINDofFEELIN clubs seals. Where's the outrage? I'm PMing Ewok to have the Canada Forum shut down immediately.

Haha. I actually saw the first seal of my life in September. It was funny. I was at the hatchery in Kitimat. Lindsay's friend who works there brought me down to the river to show me all of the salmon that clump up at the discharge pipe (warm water). I asked her, "Do you ever see seals this far up the river?" About that time, a seal popped up about 20 feet behind her like it was waiting for its cue.

Not to give myself up or anything, but seals are extremely cute. Even the big ones. They look like dogs in the face.