You don’t have to be a card-carrying member of PETA or a Rainbow Warrior boarding Japanese tuna boats to appreciate this story.
A dolphin known as Moko by local residents around Mahia Beach in New Zealand came to the rescue of a pair of pygmy sperm whales last week. The whales repeatedly tried to beach themselves despite the efforts of a local Conservation Department officer. He attempted to urge the mother whale and her male calf back to deeper water and safety, but the pair seemed to be headed to a painful death on the shore when Moko showed up.
The wildlife officer said he heard the animals communicating with their high pitched sounds. Then Moko, who often approaches humans in kayaks and boats in her watery neighborhood, led the at-risk whales about 200 yards down shore to a narrow channel and through to safety.
Not only is it one of those stories that makes you go “Aaaaawwww,” it’s piqued the interest of marine biologists interested in the fact that different species apparently communicated with each other in a time of crisis.
For more details, visit Environmental Graffiti and Discovery News.
Tags: dolphins, pygmy sperm whales, dolphin rescue, Mahia Beach, Moko the dolphin, beached whales