A 1.5 metre, 60kg bottlenose dolphin, which washed ashore on Khao Lak beach, in Thailand’s southern province of Phang-nga yesterday (Friday), has been rescued and taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre to recover.

Tourists and hotel staff found the dolphin and tried to return it to the sea three times, but without success, as it was repeatedly washed back to the shore by the strong waves.

They then decided to dig a hole in the beach, covered it with a blanket and placed the dolphin into it. The tourists and hotel employees took turns to pour seawater over the stranded aquatic mammal, to prevent its skin from drying out, as they waited for officials from Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, who had been alerted the sub-district chief, to arrive.

The park officials then arranged for the dolphin to be taken to the marine centre, which has facilities to treat weak and sick marine creatures before returning them into the sea.