Chinese white dolphin receives terrible injuries after 'collision with outboard motor'

A Chinese white dolphin has been spotted off the coast of Tai O sporting horrific slash injuries across its fin and back after what is believed to have been a collision with a tour boat's outboard motor.

Despite its raw-looking injuries, some of which appear to be several inches deep, a marine scientist who observed the dolphin believes it still has a fighting chance, but has urged tour guides operating dolphin-spotting excursions to steer clear of it.

The dolphin was found in waters near the west Lantau Island fishing village at around 4.30pm on Saturday. Video and photos taken by members of the University of Hong Kong Swire Institute of Marine Science, clearly showed the pink-coloured marine mammal swimming along with large gashes on its back and tail.

Dolphin Conservation Society chairman Samuel Hung Ka-yiu, who arrived on scene to assess the animal's injuries, suspected they may have been caused by propeller cuts from the outboard engine of what was most likely a walla-walla - small motorboats often seen in the area for dolphin-spotting tours.

“The injuries are very serious,” said Hung.

Despite the cuts, Hung said the dolphin appeared “surprisingly tough” and was seen swimming, rolling around and even feeding on fish near the water's surface.