QuickCheck: Was a dolphin calf found beached in Johor?

We’ve got you: Civil Defence Force personnel rescuing the beached dolphin found at Pantai Air Papan in Mersing, Johor.

IT is said that a dolphin calf was found beached along the coastline of Pantai Air Papan in Mersing.

Is this true?

Verdict:

TRUE

It is learnt that the strong current of the South China Sea could have separated the dolphin, believed to be one or two years old, from its pod and mother.

The common bottlenose dolphin calf is estimated to weigh between 30kg and 35kg.

Johor Civil Defence Force (APM) personnel, with the help of Fisheries Department staff, rescued the beached dolphin.

Mersing APM beach rescue tower personnel spotted the beached mammal while putting up red flags along the coastline.

The dolphin was spotted some 800m away from the watchtower.

They tried to release the dolphin back into the water but were unable to do so because of the high tide and strong winds.

They then contacted the Fisheries Department for assistance in rescuing the dolphin, which appeared to have an injury on its tail.

The department managed to release it back into the sea at Teluk Buih.

Johor Fisheries Department director Zainudin Abd Wahab confirmed that the dolphin had sustained an injury to its tail.

"The injury might have been caused by sharp corals when the animal was hit by waves due to the choppy seas. However, the injury was not serious.

"The dolphin was released after we assessed its condition," he added.

References:

1. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/01/01/dolphin-calf-saved-and-released