A DARING rescue plan will be announced today to try and save Randy the dolphin.
The playful ten-year-old bottlenose has captivated hundreds of people in Weymouth harbour since he was first spotted off the Dorset coast in March, but he has already been badly hurt by boat traffic and experts fear he may be killed.
Now the World Society for the Protection of Animals is planning a rescue mission which hopes to guide Randy back to his home waters off Cherbourg on the French coast where he is known as Georges.
He will not be fed or touched during the operation which will put his welfare first at all times.
Society project officer Ric O'Barry, the former trainer of Flipper the dolphin, said the operation would go ahead, weather and sea conditions permitting.
He added: "If this dolphin was any other wild animal that was running around in traffic it would have already been relocated back into the wild or to a sanctuary. We are going to try and give Georges safe passage back to his home waters.
"The society is appealing for all users of the harbour not to obstruct this attempt and is particularly requesting that people not try to follow Georges home as any distraction from other vessels could compromise the chances of success."
A coalition has also been formed including Durlston Marine Project to design and implement a management plan to help protect the dolphin and local water users.
The coalition has been trying to manage people through public awareness, voluntary 'no swim' areas and beach patrols and has asked for volunteers as part of the patrols.
It says these people have a very important job helping to spread the message about the risk of close contact with the dolphin, both for dolphin and human health and safety.
Elsewhere a Dolphin Watch meeting scheduled for June 18 has been postponed and will now take place on July 25 at Durlston Visitors' Centre from 10am until 1.30pm.
The meeting will be a refresher course for both new and experienced dolphin-watchers.
New Dolphin Watch volunteers are still needed, not only for the Durlston Watch, but also for the teams being set up at Hengistbury Head, Portland and Poole.
Anyone interested can attend the July course or contact Cathryn or Amanda at the Visitors' Centre on (01929) 421111.
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