Dolphin rescue

Protecting wildlife is all part of the job for our team in Port Hedland.

Recently, three ladies out walking a dog came across two dolphins stranded in a pool of water along Port Hedland’s Cemetery beach.

The Department of Environment & Conservation (DEC) were immediately notified and DEC officers were despatched from Karratha.

Meanwhile, Paul McGowan from Dampier Salt’s Port Hedland Process team found out about the dolphins plight and contacted Laura Tucker, our environmental adviser. 

“After contacting the environmental officer at Port Hedland Port Authority, Paul and I headed down to see if we could help out and to liaise with the DEC officer in Karratha.” Laura said.

“The ladies already had towels on one dolphin keeping it cool and the second dolphin was still able to swim around. It appears the dolphin got stuck in a pool when the tide went out. DEC advice was not to move the dolphin and keep it cool,” she said.

“As soon as the tide came in about 30 minutes later the dolphin was able to get itself free. We waited around to ensure that they were both able to get out of the pool.  Once the tide came in further and covered the sandbar they happily swam off into the deep blue sea!”

Laura insists it was the three ladies who did all the work  “All I did was liaise with DEC about what was needed and to inform them when the dolphins were free so they could turn their officers around who were on their way up to assist,” Laura said.