A male dolphin washed ashore in east China has survived thanks to
week-long intensive care, rescue experts announced Thursday.
Huang Zongguo, a research fellow with the No.3 Institute under the
State Oceanic Administration, said it is the first time experts
have successfully saved a beached dolphin on China's mainland.
He
said the bleeding dolphin, which is between 5 and 8 years old, was
found stranded on a beach in Zhangpu County in Fujian
Province, east China, by fishermen on June 25. It was then
moved to a makeshift shallow pool.
A
college student specializing in marine life, who happened to be at
the beach, gave first aid to the animal and reported the finding to
local fishery authorities. Experts say the dolphin seemed to be
crying when the student treated its cuts and cradled it in the
water. It had several wounds and was in a bad way swimming slowly
and with great effort.
The rescue operation and medical treatment began on the same day
but was not made public until Wednesday as experts believed a
quiet, undisturbed environment was important for the injured
dolphin's recovery, said Huang.
The dolphin was moved to an aquarium in Xiamen the day after it was
found for ongoing treatment at the aquarium.
During the week, Zhao Qingzhong, a dolphin expert from the Chinese
Academy of Sciences was invited to join in consultations with
specialists at the aquarium.
The dolphin was given vitamin supplements and medication after its
condition was assessed.
It
began to eat on June 27, and can now consume seven kilograms of
live fish a day.
Experts say the dolphin will take a few more days to recover
fully.
(Xinhua News
Agency July 19, 2002)