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Last Updated: Tuesday January 31 2006 17:50 GMT

Marra the marina dolphin is freed

Dolphin rescued from Maryport marina.
A dolphin which had been stuck in a marina in Cumbria for almost a month has been freed by marine experts.

The bottle-nosed dolphin, nicknamed Marra, was lifted out of the harbour at Maryport before being released into the sea a mile from the shore.

The two-metre-long animal had started to develop health problems due to living in cold freshwater for too long.

But witnesses said Marra soon cheered up and was seen playing with another dolphin moments after being released.

It's believed the dolphin became trapped because of the design of the marina gates.

The dolphin's release comes just over a week after the failed rescue attempt of a bottle-nosed whale which got stuck in the River Thames.

The rescue

Rescuers waited for the water level in the marina to drop then formed a semi-circle around the dolphin.

They captured the creature, placed it onto a stretcher then lifted it onto the harbour with a crane.

It was then taken to a waiting boat which transferred it to the sea. The whole process took around 20 minutes.

Tony Woodley from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue Group said:: "It was a fantastic rescue and everything went just like clockwork."



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