Heroes rescue dolphin just in time to save his life | Earth Rangers

This dolphin is in trouble, Earth Rangers. And it's up to these people to save his life. Earlier that day, that dolphin looked a little like this. What he and his buddies didn't realize was that they were headed into dangerous waters. Cape Cod Bay. Suddenly, they were surrounded by land on three sides. And echolocation wasn't going to help them find their way out. The calls they were using to navigate got absorbed by the soft, sloping shores. They were stuck. But that still didn't explain how this dolphin ended up on land. Where did all the water go? Well, the tide went out, big time. As the dolphins were swimming, the water got shallower and shallower until it was gone, leaving them stranded. And even though dolphins breathe air, they were in big trouble. Dolphins can survive being out of water, but only for a short time, and only when cared for by experts. Thankfully, some experts were nearby. The International Fund for Animal Welfare, IFAW. These honorary Earth Rangers have teams all over the world helping keep animals safe. And with Cape Cod seeing more strandings of live dolphins than anywhere in the world, they were the heroes to call. One thing you need to know is that dolphins are big. Common dolphins, like this one, can be up to 8 feet long and weigh 300 pounds. That's as much as a refrigerator. So how are we going to move this dolphin? With a whole team of people. Remember, lift with your knees, not your back. 3, 2, 1, up. Dolphins are way too heavy to carry very far, so it's a good thing the IFAW team had this, a dolphin cart. It's a special rescue tool for moving heavy dolphins over land. There's even space for two. Uh, team, where are you going? The water's the other way. Oh, right. The tide was out. These dolphins are going to need a ride to a safer place with deeper waters. This was a job for MOBI, IFAW's Mobile Dolphin Clinic. It's like an ambulance for dolphins, stocked with all the things the team needed. Dolphin beds, blankets, room for up to 12 common dolphins, and even an ultrasound machine. Whoa, check it out. Scans like these tell the team if the dolphins need more treatment at the rescue center or if they're ready to be released. For those that were ready, these animal-saving heroes needed to get them somewhere they wouldn't get stranded again, the open ocean. That meant the farthest tip of Cape Cod, Herring Cove Beach. They got the dolphins set up on the sand. These tents aren't just for show. They keep the dolphins secure and out of the sun and wind. Hang in there, buddy. It won't be long now. The team moved the dolphin into the water, but he wasn't quite ready to be released yet. Hang on. Time for a better view. Everyone knows underwater is the best way to see a dolphin. Oh, he can't wait to get back home. First, the IFAW team had to check out how he handled the water. He would tell them he was ready by pumping his tail. Come on, you can do it. Was that a pump? It was. Let's do this. Release time in 3, 2, 1, go. The dolphin was on his way home. The team did an amazing job saving that dolphin and his friends. That's why I'm nominating IFAW for Earth Rangers of the Year. You can help animals, too. Download the Earth Rangers app to get started.