Dolphin pod stranded by outgoing tide

Two dolphins died when a pod of eight was stranded by an outgoing tide at Lucas Creek in Albany on Auckland's North Shore today.

Police said residents told them the dolphins came up the river and were stuck in a pond after the tide began going out.

Department of Conservation spokesman Bill Trusewich said two of the common dolphins had died, three had been taken out to deeper water and three more were being treated by Massey University mammal vet Padraig Duignan.

The three rescued dolphins had been taken down to the mouth of the creek where it entered Waitemata Harbour.

They had rejoined a larger pod in the harbour, Mr Trusewich said.

The other three were treated by Mr Duignan, who gave them antibiotics, and they were to be taken back to the mouth of the creek.

He said a concrete weir may have trapped the dolphins and DOC would investigate it after the rescue mission.

- NZPA