A young dolphin at Tangalooma has been rescued after becoming entangled on a fishing line.
The Sea World Foundation conducted a delicate operation on Sunday to save the “boisterous” bottlenose dolphin, named Comet.
The four-year-old is a regular to the Tangalooma wild dolphin feeding program, with their team noticing on Saturday that he had fishing line twisted around his fluke.
Sea World’s marine mammal team then travelled up to Tangalooma Island Resort to catch Comet and perform this life-saving intervention.
Head of Marine Sciences, Wayne Phillips, says the rescue was a coordinated effort with the Tangalooma Eco Centre’s Dolphin Care team.
“It was incredibly rewarding to remove the entanglement and watch Comet swim off strongly following the operation and return to the wild dolphin feeding program,” Mr Phillips says.
“We have a great relationship with the Tangalooma Dolphin Care team and are proud to be in the position to provide our expertise to assist them and the animals who reside in the area.”
In the footage, you can see Head Veterinarian, Dr Claire Madden, conduct the surgery on the shore to remove the entanglement.
IMAGE: Supplied
Thankfully there was only superficial damage to Comet’s fluke which is expected to fully heal.
Tangalooma Island Resort’s Dolphin Feeding Program Manager, Sue Hassard, says they are so thankful the Sea World Foundation team came across to help Comet at such short notice.
“Comet is one of our youngest dolphins – an extremely boisterous male, so it was heart-breaking to see him entangled in fishing line,” Ms Hassard says
“Without their swift intervention, the outlook for him was not overly positive – we are so grateful to the Sea World marine mammal team for their crucial assistance with our dolphins.”
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