A dolphin has found the true flip side of life just weeks after being washed up on an East China beach, bleeding badly with wounds to its eyes and fins.

It will soon take up a new home at Xiamen Ocean World Aquarium, in Fujian Province, after making a recovery and is set to become a firm favorite with visitors.

The male dolphin, believed to be between five and eight years old, is currently living in a temporarily confined area in the sea near Xiamen's Huoshaoyu Island, said Lin Yuhui, curator of the Xiamen Ocean World Aquarium.

"It is the first time the mainland has successfully rescued a stranded dolphin and this will encourage others to follow our example," Lin said.

The dolphin was found by fishermen on June 25 on a beach in Zhangpu County, two hours' drive southwest of Xiamen. They said it was bleeding with many wounds around its right eye and fins. They then put it in a temporary water pool.

A college student surnamed Liu, who is majoring in aquatic science, reported the news to the local fishery authority and applied first aid to the injured mammal.

The dolphin was moved to Xiamen the following day and was given expert medical treatment from aquatic biologists and aquatic animal trainers from the Xiamen Ocean World Aquarium.

On June 27, two days after it was saved from the beach, the dolphin finally began to eat.

Now the dolphin is eating 7 kilograms of fish a day while multi-vitamins have been added to its food to guarantee a quick recovery, Lin said.

The animal is currently undergoing daily medical checks and is expected to be moved to the aquarium later this month.

At present, the aquarium has two dolphins but both are borrowed from Guangzhou Aquarium.

The successful rescue of the dolphin was the result of timely first aid and proper rescue measures, said Huang Zongguo, a researcher with the Xiamen-based No 3 Institute under the State Oceanographic Bureau.

Huang said dolphins are very smart animals and sensitive to environmental change.

Fujian fishery authorities withheld a public announcement of the news until the animal had fully recovered to ensure its environment was not disturbed further.

(China Daily July 19, 2002)