A community near Canning, NS, recovered on Sunday to help a dolphin pod stranded in mud.
Melissa Pineo and her family noticed around a dozen white dolphins in the water near Pineo’s house. They were enjoying Sunday morning until the tide came out and the Dolphins stuck.
“They were increasingly stuck in the mud and my partner and my father and a couple of people from the community jumped and rose them to the water,” Pineo said.
Pineo said the Dolphins were making acute anguish sounds. His mother, Kim, began making calls to anyone who can help, including 911.
A group of people tried to help dolphins, using their naked hands and even pieces of rope. As the voice was run, more people arrived to offer assistance.
“It was not the way I planned to spend my Sunday, but it was really great to see the community unite like this,” said Melissa Pineo.
The members of the Marine Animal Response Society also responded.
They said it became easier for the Dolphins to escape after the tide returned.
“We were able to work with a marine and local diving company that had a boat to get some of our responders,” said Tonya Wimmer, executive director of the organization.
“We had the right team and everything else to … try to move [the dolphins] outside the mud. “
Wimmer said there were also concerns that people get stuck in the mud too. The Canning Fire Department arrived to help with that.
Finally, the dolphins were cornered again in deep waters using the diving boat.
“They are overheating, their ears are not feeling where the line is still,” Wimmer said. “But between them and the local company with the boat, they were able to encourage animals to return and go to the appropriate part of the [Bay of Fundy]”
Wimmer says that this type of event is common in the area as marine mammals move to find food.
“They may not be able to discover how deep the water is and simply are trapped when the low tide,” Wimmer said.
Kim Pineo said his family members do not regret their efforts.
“They were covered with mud, but it was an event. But … they all said they would do it again even though they are quite tired and sore today,” he said.
