Dolphin Saves the Day, Beached Whales

March 18, 2008

NEW ZEALAND – A remarkable rescue effort saved two pygmy sperm whales beached in New Zealand. But it wasn’t marine experts who saved the day, rather another marine mammal.

The ordeal began as a mother and her calf became stranded off Mahia Beach -- a dangerous area for the mammals, with more than 30 whales getting beached there every year.

The whales fought for their lives as rescuers worked for nearly two hours to get them back out to sea.

“They became more distressed as time wore on,” said Conservation Department Officer Malcolm Smith.

In fact, the two whales re-stranded themselves four times on the sandbar mid-way between the beach and the sea. According to Smith, the whales were disoriented and exhausted from the failed attempts.

“I was about to give up, and usually when that happens, the whales will stay on the beach and we have to take the distress away from the situation,” said Smith, who was preparing to euthanize the whales.

With hope lost, the situation was dire but that all changed when a bottle-nosed dolphin, named Moko, showed up.

“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.”

Smith, who has more than 30 years of experience, also was amazed by the turn of events.

“I don’t speak whale and I don’t speak dolphin,” said Smith. “But there was obviously something that went on because the two whales changed their attitude from being quite distressed to following the dolphin quite willingly and directly along the beach and straight out to see.”

Moko lead the two whales 200 yards along the beach and through a channel out to the open sea, where the pair have not been seen from since.

“This is the first recorded incident of something like that happening,” said Smith, who, afterwards, spoke to other marine mammal experts who also agreed Moko’s rescue is one of a kind.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard of an inter-species refloating technique,” said Anton van Helden, the marine mammals expert at New Zealand’s National Museum who Smith spoke with.

While Moko might have made whale rescue history, her actions are not out of character for the altruistic nature of dolphins.

The mammals have been known to protect people lost at sea and to play with other animals.

True to her species, Moko is now back to her normal day’s routine of playing with swimmers in the bay, a place she has called home for the last year.

“I shouldn’t do this I know, we are meant to remain scientific,” said Smith, moved by the dramatic rescue. “But I actually went into the water with the dolphin and gave it a pat, afterwards, because she really did save the day.”

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Special contributions were made to this report by The Associated Press and BBC.