Photographs show healing of sunburned dolphin Spirtle By Steven McKenzie

BBC Scotland Highlands and Islands reporter Published duration 10 June 2017

image copyright University of Aberdeen image caption An image taken just months after bottlenose dolphin Spirtle was sunburned

Photographs taken by University of Aberdeen scientists chart a dolphin's recovery from horrific looking sunburn injuries.

The bottlenose dolphin known as Spirtle was stranded out of the water on mudflats for 24 hours last May in the Cromarty Firth.

image copyright University of Aberdeen image caption The dolphin was injured after becoming stranded on mudflats

Rescuers refloated the dolphin but did not think she would survive.

image copyright University of Aberdeen image caption Scientists have been monitoring how Spirtle's wound has healed

The University of Aberdeen has been monitoring Spirtle's recovery from its Lighthouse Field Station at Cromarty.

Scientists and conservationists hope Spirtle might eventually breed and raise young.

image copyright University of Aberdeen image caption An image of Spirtle taken in May this year

She is part of a group of dolphins that include her sister Honey and their mother Porridge, and are usually found in the Moray Firth.

Whale and Dolphin Conservation field officer and wildlife photographer Charlie Phillips has also been helping to document Spirtle's recovery

image copyright University of Aberdeen image caption Young Spirtle and her mum Porridge in 2012

image copyright University of Aberdeen image caption Mother and daughter in 2015

image copyright University of Aberdeen image caption Conservationists hope she will go on to raise young of her own

image copyright WDC/Charlie Phillips image caption An image of Spirtle taken at the weekend by Charlie Phillips