Dolphin maimed in ‘outboard motor’ accident is no stranger to Hong Kong waters

The Chinese white dolphin whose body was deeply gashed by a propeller engine was identified as a Hong Kong habitant, who has been spotted in the city’s waters several times.

Known as WL212 to scientists, the dolphin had been tagged to help researchers keep track of its movements.

It has been sighted 12 times in Hong Kong waters, according to the Dolphin Conservation Society (HKDCS). It typically keeps close to the western coast of Lantau Island, going as far as a few kilometres north of the Chek Lap Kok airport, according to a homing range map released by the society.

The dolphin was spotted off the coast of Tai O at the weekend 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.

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.