Injured Dolphin Rescued From N.Y. Waterway

A 471-pound dolphin described as being in extremely critical condition was rescued by biologists this weekend from a canal in Bellmore, N.Y.

New York Newsday said Sunday that area residents spotted the male dolphin in a patchwork of inlets, prompting biologists from the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation to come to the rescue.

He did seem to be in distress, resident Bob O’Brien said of the mammal. He was taking great big breaths and sticking his nose out of the water.

Three biologists were able to guide the dolphin to a boat dock Saturday, where they loaded the seemingly injured animal into a truck. From there the dolphin was taken to Atlantis Marine World in nearby Riverhead, where tests were conducted to determine its condition.

A foundation official told the Long Island newspaper results of those tests would not be available for nearly two weeks.