About 20 people rescued a group of stranded dolphins that had been herded by a pod of transient orcas, Monday near Powell River.

Rescuers believe the orcas had pushed the 16 Pacific white-sided dolphins into an old fishing trap close to shore.

Susan MacKay sa国际传媒� founder of Whales and Dolphins BC, a publication of the Wild Ocean Whale Society sa国际传媒� praised the efforts of community members who saved the dolphins with tarps and blankets.

sa国际传媒淭hey jumped in right away. The majority were from the Tlasa国际传媒檃min Nation,sa国际传媒� MacKay said. sa国际传媒淏y the time I found out they were getting stuck, and I communicated with DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada), there were only a few left still stuck in that pool. It (rescue) went very quickly.sa国际传媒�

She credits the rescuers who remained with the dolphins to ensure their safety after they had carried them into deeper water.

sa国际传媒淭hey all got out, and they all grouped up and continued south, which was the opposite direction that the orca went in,sa国际传媒� MacKay said. sa国际传媒淓veryone was absolutely thrilled they managed to swim away OK, and they werensa国际传媒檛 stranded for any horrific length of time.sa国际传媒�

Being meat eaters, MacKay said transient orcas will sneak up on dolphins, and then disperse them.

sa国际传媒淭hey tend to stick with one group,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e seen it happen where theysa国际传媒檝e herded them into bays on a regular basis. Sometimes it becomes a mass slaughter, if the dolphins are totally stuck. These dolphins were looking for any method to hide. They were able to get shallower than the orca, but the orca were back and forth. They were really quite relentless. Just waiting for them.sa国际传媒�