RANGERS have spotted a snubfin dolphin frolicking off Hinchinbrook Island in a small pod, in an extremely rare sighting of the vulnerable species.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger Emma Schmidt has been working in the waters off the island for 12 years, but has only encountered the sociable mammals twice.

“They are very rare, so this photo was just pure luck,” Ms Schmidt said.

“We were heading to Sunken Reef Bay and I noticed a pod of about 10 Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and among them was this cute little snubby.

“It was playing and mucking around jumping out of the water and in the photo it looks like it’s smiling.”

Ms Schmidt said while the animals were difficult to find, the Hinchinbrook Channel was a regular snubfin pod hotspot.

“They like the sheltered inshore waters rather than out of the reef.

“They are very shy, but there is one charter operator who regularly sees a pod,” she said.