SeaWayBLOG: Nari, the dolphin savaged by a shark, protected by his mate and saved by humans.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Nari, the dolphin savaged by a shark, protected by his mate and saved by humans.

Photographer : Kit de Guymer

This is a story that moved a lot of human beings this week. Nari, a dolphin severely wounded by a shark have been protected and escorted by his mate Echo for three days and then led by him to the seaside for help.
Before he was savaged by a three meters Bull Shark, Nari, the 12-year-old dolphin, usually came for a nightly hand-feeding ritual on the coast of Moreton Island, near Brisbane, together with his other 12 mates. Marine vets feared he had died when he did not appear at feeding time for days.
However, on Tuesday night Nari reappeared at the beach, looking tired and frail. He was led in to shore by his mate Echo looking for the help of humans.
Vets and Volunteers immediately captured Nari without any struggle and transferred it to Sea World on the Gold Coast where it underwent surgery for deep wounds and was given antibiotics to prevent infection. It is recovering under the watchful eye of marine vets and is expected to rejoin the pod and his mate Echo within eight weeks.

Nari, the dolphin savaged by a shark, protected by his mate and saved by humans.

Experts suggested that Echo's sympathy for Nari may stem from an incident in 1996 when Echo was himself attacked by a shark.
Having disappeared the same day as Nari and reappeared at his side There is no reason to think other than that Echo stayed with Nari for a few days, waiting until Nari was well enough to make it back to the feeding area. How can we call this thing other than love and friendship?
What has thrilled wildlife experts even more is the trust that Nari has appeared to put in the humans who were able to lift him without a struggle into a boat and take him to the mainland to be treated by vets.

Nari, the dolphin savaged by a shark, protected by his mate and saved by humans.

'The injury is quite severe - the bite went right through the skin, flesh and blubber down to the muscle and Nari's pretty sore. We're going to cut out the large piece of flesh that has been ripped by the shark and treat him in a special quarantine pool at Sea World. Then it will be a case of the wound healing from the inside out. We're got high hopes he'll recover and then we'll release him back into the wild where we're sure his friend Echo will be waiting for him.' said a vet.

Nari, the dolphin savaged by a shark, protected by his mate and saved by humans.