A dolphin that washed up at Tryphena today has been collected by the Great Barrier Island Department of Conservation office.
Rangers Chippy Wood and Ratanui Beazley attended the scene, supported by teenagers Phoenix Beazley and Jarred Beazley.
Video credit: Jade Beazley
The dolphin was taken to Okiwi, where it was laid to rest with a blessing in accordance with the customs of Ngāti Rehua–Ngātiwai ki Aotea.
Principal Ranger Karl Fisher said DOC was alerted to the dolphin at Pa Beach, Tryphena, and worked with Ngāti Rehua to respond.
“The dolphin was a male common dolphin, and we didn’t find anything unusual in its appearance or death,” Mr Fisher said. “We took the standard samples used by scientists for dolphin population health tracking, then relocated it to an appropriate burial site away from the public.”
