A "melon-headed whale" beached near Addu city's Koattey was rescued by the Addu Nature Park yesterday.
Addu Nature Park Ranger Iujaz Ali told Adhadhu that the beached dolphin was reported around 6:04 pm last night by a person who went to the area, after which nature park staff went to the scene around 6:20 pm.
The staff immediately poured water on the dolphin to keep it alive, Iujaz said.
"There were two dolphins when we went there. One was washed up at the beach and the other was in the sea. We couldn't carry the beached one to the sea. It was very sick as well. We faced difficulties because it was low tide. So until high tide, we used wet towels and salt buckets and put the dolphin upright and tried to keep it moist," Iujaz said.
The dolphin was released back into the sea around 7:15 pm when waves started to crash during high tide, he said. The dolphin swam back to the shore about five times but was sent back, he added.
Iujaz said the dolphin was expected to have come ashore due to some injury. There were visible injuries but it was unclear whether they were caused during the beaching, he said.
"This dolphin is one that is commonly seen in the south, especially in Addu and Fuvahmulah," Iujaz said.
Many people on social media have been praising the efforts of the four employees from the Addu Nature Park.
