("Jiang Jiang" under treatment. Photo/Southcn.com)
After two months of medical treatment, a stranded dolphin was released back into the wild where the Pearl River meets the South China Sea in southern China’s Guangdong province on July 20.
It is one of the world’s few rare dolphin rescue and release operations.
The male dolphin, nicknamed “Jiang Jiang,” was found stranded on the beach of Guangdong on May 3, the second stranded dolphin in the province this year. The first dolphin died after ten days’ care.
“Jiang Jiang” was found in a poor health in May. It was suffering from malnutrition and had severe muscle injuries. It was even unable to breathe by itself above water. It was carefully nursed back to health for two months and then released, according to Chen Xi, an officer with the Pearl River Estuary Chinese White Dolphin National Nature Reserve.
As a highly-intelligent animal, captive dolphins can suffer physical and mental health problems. Once captured for a long time, it will also lose its capacity to survive in the wild. “Jiang Jiang” also received an electronic chip implanted in its body so its motion and health can be monitored.
A dolphin can get stranded on a beach when its navigation system is affected by illness. Local authorities suggest that people immediately report a stranded dolphin if they see one, since they can survive for up to nine hours after getting stranded.
