Rare sea creature stranded on South American beach. Then ‘spirited’ locals stepped in

A young pygmy killer whale — a rare type of dolphin — was recently rescued after becoming stranded on a shore in South America.

The incident occurred on March 18 in Buxton, Guyana — a small town located about 160 miles from the Venezuelan border, according to a news release from the University of Guyana.

After being alerted to the stranding, a number of individuals quickly responded to the scene, including fisheries officials, marine biologists and “public-spirited residents of Buxton.”

“During the operation, the team assessed the whale’s condition, identified its species, and provided expert guidance to ensure minimal stress and risk to the animal,” according to the university.

The rescuers doused the dolphin with water in order to keep it hydrated and in stable condition.

A photo posted by the university shows a trio of men carrying the creature in the shallow water as passersby on shore looked on.

The dolphin was eventually transported to the mouth of the nearby Demerara River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

“This unified response not only saved the whale’s life but also underscored the shared commitment to marine conservation among these organizations and the community,” the university said.

Pygmy killer whales — which can measure up to 8.5 feet long and weigh nearly 500 pounds — are found throughout warmer parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Despite their name, they hardly resemble killer whales and are distinguished by their sleek, black or grey bodies and rounded heads, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation, a non-profit.

They’re typically found in groups of up to 33 individuals, and they feed on fish, squid and even other species of dolphins.

Much else about the ocean dwellers remains unknown, “and they are considered naturally rare,” per NOAA.

In fact, the first live specimen was only discovered in 1954, prior to which they were only known from their fossil record.

A pygmy killer whale pod was previously spotted by boaters off Madeira, a Portuguese archipelago, in July, according to previous reporting from McClatchy News.

This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM with the headline "Rare sea creature stranded on South American beach. Then ‘spirited’ locals stepped in."