Baby dolphin rescued off Erdek coast in Turkey

A roughly 1.5‑metre‑long juvenile dolphin that had stranded on the beach at Tatlısu Mahallesi, Büyük Bakraç in Erdek, Balıkesir Province, was safely returned to the sea after a coordinated rescue effort. Local resident Halil Can Akgül spotted the animal, reported the incident to the 112 emergency line, and the Turkish Coast Guard, lifeguards and health teams arrived promptly.

The responders kept the dolphin in the water, moving it with a lifeguard’s shirt to prevent injury, and then launched a search for its mother as they guided it back toward deeper waters. Crowds of onlookers gathered on the shore to watch the operation, which ended with the dolphin released near its natural habitat and efforts made to reunite it with its mother.