(Image source: Montreal Gazette)
BY LEXA DECKERT
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Four dolphins off the coast of Vancouver Island may owe their lives to Facebook. GlobalToronto explains.
“A group of stranded dolphins triggered an intense rescue effort in the coastal BC community this morning... It was the power of social media that made the rescue possible. Word of the dolphin’s plight spread on Facebook and about 50 people showed up to help.”
The relief effort for the dolphins began with one man -- who couldn't have saved the dolphins alone -- Pacific white-sided dolphins can weight more than 150 pounds each. CBC News reports his experience...
REPORTER: “The first man on scene called friends for help.”
MAN: “Finally one of the neighbors came over and I guess the news got around in town and these 50 people showed up.”
The first plea for help on Facebook was posted around 7 a.m. and despite the early hour people responded quickly. A News talked to one of the first responders...
WOMAN: “I’ve always wanted to do some kind of helping thing like this and it’s one chance in a million -- not that you want to have to do anything like it happen but to be part of it is just a wonderful thing.”
MAN: “It was awesome. It was stressful and rewarding and good karma for everybody.”
The Province reports the opinion of a Marine Mammal Response Biologist for Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the rescue...
“...[I] would have liked to have been able to do a veterinary assessment of the dolphins, but due to the urgent nature of what happened here we're just very glad that they got back in the water and they do appear to be swimming on their own... Our response program relies very heavily on public involvement... Certainly Facebook and Twitter are very good things when it comes to these kind of urgent situations."
BC Local News marvels at the people rather than the power of Facebook...
“Had volunteers waited for too long, the story may not have had as happy an ending... It’s inspiring and comforting to know there are so many people in this city who are willing to led a hand when someone, or something, is in need.”
The reason for the beached dolphins is still unknown -- although some think they were caught unaware by the tide while hunting for fish. They were all returned to the ocean with only a few scratches by 10 a.m.
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