Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty to rescue stranded animals.
That’s what Naude Dreyer, a sea kayak shop owner in Walvis Bay, South Africa, did when he discovered a Benguela dolphin stranded on the shore near his shop.
How the dolphin became stranded is unclear, but Dreyer knew something had to be done quickly.
“I was just doing what was the right thing to do,” he said, “I couldn’t leave him there.”
Although he was unsure if the dolphin could recover, Naude knew the stranded animal’s only chance was in the ocean. He carefully picked up the dolphin and began carrying it toward the water, hoping to rescue it before it was too late.
After being placed in the water, the dolphin became disoriented for a few moments. Then, he realized he was in home and began to swim away, but not before seeming to wave goodbye with his tail to his rescuer.
In a Facebook post on his kayak shop’s page, Dreyer said,
“After a quick assessment and measurements, I attempted to get him swimming again. I was not very hopeful, but as soon as he got into water and realized where he was he took off like a bullet… I’ll do a drive past the same area again later just to make sure he hasn’t returned again.”
Even better, someone caught the rescue on video! Check it out:
Benguela dolphins only live on the south west coast of Africa and their total population is unknown. But whether or not the species faces challenges, Dreyer’s actions were definitely heroic. Thanks to Naude, this dolphin is now free to once again live in his natural habitat!
Way to go Naude! We can all play our part in protecting wildlife by keeping an eye out for animals in need of rescue!