Locals discover dolphin stranded in mangroves

PHUKET: Endangered species specialists are fighting to save the life of a spotted dolphin discovered stranded in the mangrove forests bordering Phuket Town yesterday.

“When we arrived, villagers were helping the dolphin by holding the exhausted animal in the water, as it was unable to swim,” said Patcharaporn Kaewmong, a veterinarian at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC).

The locals found the marine mammal in Klong Koh Pee, just behind the Phuket City Municipality incinerator.

“The dolphin had wounds on one of her pectoral fins and also her mouth. She has been administered oxygen and put on antibiotics,” said Dr Patcharaporn. “We will also be checking her blood work to see if there are any infections.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong