Locals free dolphins

 

Early on November 26 a pod of six bottlenose dolphins became grounded in shallow waters at low tide in Mangawhai Harbour.

Working quickly but calmly, locals helped avert what could have been a traumatic situation by keeping the dolphins stable and cool before freeing them on the incoming tide.

The dolphins responded well to their human rescuers – a fleet of 12 kayakers, surf life savers, volunteers in their RIB and Project Jonah medics shepherded the dolphins into deeper water and the open sea.

Estuary regulars say the dolphins are a local pod often seen in the area, but how they suddenly come to be beached, as do whales from time to time, is a mystery.