What a year it’s been for wildlife.

There have been walruses, goats running amok and now a stranded to dolphin to contend with, suggesting that the animals are having as strange a time on this earth as we humans.

Yesterday, a dolphin became stranded and was rescued for the second time in as many days. Having already been rescued from Courtmacsherry, the fellow then became beached near Timoleague, prompting the Courtmacsherry Harbour Lifeboat to spring into action again.

It appears that the dolphin simply got lost, and RNLI workers were able to guide him back out to sea.

Photos of the rescue were captured by Cork man Gearóid Holland, who shared them on Twitter.

Courtmacsherry RNLI assist with the rescue of a dolphin near Timoleague this morning. @CourtmacRNLI @corkbeo @PhotosCork @SouthoftheN71 #WestCork @wildatlanticway @NatureRTE pic.twitter.com/R00nYtR88J

— Gearoid Holland (@GearoidHolland) September 30, 2021

The news comes as a welcome surprise, as an earlier tweet from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group had suggested that the prognosis for the stranded dolphin “didn’t look good.”

A dolphin which live stranded in Courtmacsherry, Co Cork yesterday may have re-stranded in Timoleague this morning. The prognosis doesn't look good, but the IWDG will mobilise local members to assess the situation and consider removing the dolphin to a nearby pier. pic.twitter.com/5Vr5sU0qjH

— Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (@IWDGnews) September 30, 2021

Now let’s hope our dolphin pal can stay out at sea this time.