Volunteer rescuers save baby porpoise trapped on B.C. beach
A dramatic rescue unfolded on the coast of Vancouver Island on Sunday evening.
A young harbour porpoise was trapped on the shore along a popular resort area near Nanoose, B.C.
Nathalie Marie was the first person to spot the marine mammal, which could easily be mistaken for a dolphin.
"It had lacerations on the body, but nothing bleeding," she told CTV News. "We believe it's caused by the rocks because it was shallow water."
Uncertain of who to call for help, Marie took to social media.
"Because on a Sunday who do you call?" she said laughing. "So [community members] were able to make other phone calls, and the DFO was right on it as well."
Several people answered Marie's call for help, including the DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada) and someone with marine mammal experience.
Guided by a representative of the DFO on the phone, a group assembled by the harbor porpoise and were advised on how to return it to the ocean.
Rescuers put a towel under the porpoise for about half an hour and removed a fishing line that was tied around its nose before they tried to move it back into the ocean.
More than a dozen community members volunteered to help the stranded harbour porpoise. (Submitted)
"When I first touched it and brought it into deeper water it had like this burst of energy and it just went – but it came right back to the shore," said Marie.
DFO marine mammal coordinator Paul Cottrell says the porpoise small porpoise was likely a newborn.
"Definitely under a couple of weeks of age," he said.
"Harbour porpoise are really common and this time of year there are a lot of harbour porpoise calves, and we do get a pulse of deaths this time of year," he said.
Eventually, the group was able to take the porpoise to deeper waters by putting it on a paddle board.
It's not known how the porpoise fared after the rescue, but Marie says she was thrilled by the community's efforts.
"It was magnificent. it was just this community getting together," she said.
"It gives hope, it gives like joy-de-vivre. It shows together that we can pull great things together," she said.
The DFO says the group did the right thing by reaching out to the Marine Mammal Hotline before trying any action, something it says should be done every time people come across marine animals in distress.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.