The amazing recovery of Spirtle the sunburned dolphin who suffered terrible injuries after being beached for 24 hours
Spirtle the bottlenose dolphin has made a miraculous recovery after she was left with horrific injuries when stranded ashore two years ago
THESE amazing pictures show the miraculous recovery of a dolphin who suffered life-threatening sunburns.
Spirtle was left with “horrific” injuries after becoming beached for 24 hours two years ago.
But now the bottlenose dolphin is feeling dol-fine as she swims with her four pals near the Sutors of Cromarthy, Scotland.
Dr Barbara Cheney, of the University of Aberdeen, said that boffins were happily surprised at the sea change in Spirtle’s condition.
She said: "We weren't optimistic when we first saw her two months after the stranding in July 2016 when we saw the extent of her wound and the damage to her skin.
"However, since then we have been happily surprised by the progress of her healing, and when we spotted her last Friday the wound was completely healed over.”
The loveable sea-creature has even begun to make more friends after the traumatic incident.
The research fellow added: “When we saw her initially after the stranding she was often on her own, but now she is interacting more with other dolphins.
Her behaviour is what we would expect to see from any other six-year-old dolphin.”
Spirtle was gruesomely burned when she was stranded ashore in the Moray Firth in July 2016.
The hapless mammal was only found chance when a lost couple stumbled upon her.
They had intended to go to Chanonry Point, a popular dolphin-watching hotspot, but read their maps wrong and instead found Spirtle.
The couple raised the alarm and volunteers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue staged a rescue mission for the animal.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Spirtle was lucky to have escaped with her life during the escapade said experts at the time.
Scientists at the University of Aberdeen and Whale and Dolphin Conservation officer Charlie Phillips have been monitoring her since.
It is hoped that the six-year-old will go on to recover fully and have babies.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.