Rehabilitated dolphin released back into the wild in Sanya

Volunteers and caretakers apply petroleum jelly to keep rough-toothed dolphin Yang Yang hydrated before lifting her on a stretcher for release into the ocean off Sanya, China, on Sunday. [Photo by Wang Chenglong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A rough-toothed dolphin named Yang Yang returned to the wild off the coast of Sanya, Hainan province, on Sunday afternoon, marking China's first rescue and release of a stranded rough-toothed dolphin this year.

Nearly 100 people attended a release ceremony nearly 70 nautical miles from Sanya on Sunday, World Oceans Day, including the dolphin's initial discoverers, volunteers, and medical staff.

Yang Yang was found stranded on April 24 in Yalong Bay's Qingmei Harbor, weak and unable to swim despite having no visible injuries. The young female dolphin, measuring 2.12 meters long, was rushed to the Sanya Haichang Ocean Park's marine life rescue center for rehabilitation.

Volunteers and caretakers apply petroleum jelly to keep rough-toothed dolphin Yang Yang hydrated before lifting her on a stretcher for release into the ocean off Sanya, China, on Sunday. [Photo by Wang Chenglong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

After more than 40 days of care, she regained strength and was cleared for release.

Pu Bingmei, secretary-general of the Blue Ribbon Ocean Conservation Association, revealed that Yang Yang had ingested fishing nets and plastic debris. She urged the public to reduce plastic use, prevent waste from entering the sea, and combat illegal fishing.