A RARE striped dolphin which stranded on a Bruny Island beach is swimming free after a day-long rescue effort.

Visitors from Queensland alerted the Parks and Wildlife Service to the dolphin’s plight after discovering it beached at Cloudy Bay on Tuesday.

Reinforcements from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment’s Marine Conservation Program moved the dolphin by trailer to Adventure Bay, where it was transported to deep water by a Bruny Island Cruises vessel.

DPIPWE’s Kris Carlyon said there was no doubt a co-operative approach to the rescue had saved the life of the young striped dolphin — a species rarely seen in Tasmanian waters.

“The Marine Conservation Program is deeply indebted to the quick action by the visitors, the PWS and Bruny Island Cruises,” Dr Carlyon said.

“The animal was stabilised, the right authorities were notified and fortunately the cruise boat was on hand and able to take it to open water.

“The dolphin took off like a train when it was released. I have never seen a stranded animal respond so quickly.

media_camera The striped dolphin stranded on Cloudy Bay Beach, Bruny Island. Picture: DPIPWE

“This demonstrates the value of finding a stranded animal early and responding appropriately.”

Dr Carlyon said striped dolphins were typically oceanic animals and rarely seen near the coast.

Only two previous standings involving this species have been recorded by DPIPWE, including three striped dolphins beached at Cloudy Bay in March 2009.

“I imagine it was misadventure that brought the latest young male into shallow water,” Dr Carlyon said.

“It would have had difficulty navigating its way back out through the heavy seas coming in on the beach

“Despite its ordeal, it remained in good condition and made a very hasty getaway.”

A large male sperm whale which stranded on a sandbar between Flinders and Babel islands last week was not so fortunate, dying before a rescue could be attempted.

Marine Conservation Program biologists collected valuable samples with the help of Parks and Wildlife Service rangers and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.

Sightings of whales and dolphins can be reported to the Whale Hotline on 0427 WHALES (0427 942 537).