The world's tallest man has saved two dolphins by using his long arms to reach into their stomachs and pull out dangerous plastic shards. Mongolian herdsman Bao Xishun was called in after the dolphins swallowed plastic used around their pool at an aquarium in Fushun, north-east China. Attempts to use instruments failed as the dolphins contracted their stomachs.

Guinness World Records list Mr Bao, 54, as the world's tallest living man at 2m 36.1cm (7ft 8.95in). Veterinarians turned to Mr Bao after attempts to extract the plastic shards at the aquarium in Fushun, Liaoning Province, had failed.

The mammals had lost their appetite and were suffering depression, aquarium officials said.

The heads of the dolphins were held back and towels wrapped around their teeth so Mr Bao could not be bitten. He then extended his 1.06m-long arm into the mammals' stomachs.

Chen Lujun, manager of Royal Jidi Ocean World, said Mr Bao was successful and the dolphins were "in very good condition now". Local doctor Zhu Xiaoling told the state media agency Xinhua: "Some very small plastic pieces are still left in the dolphins' stomachs. However the dolphins will be able to digest these and are expected to recover soon."

Marine Connection comment:
The Marine Connection has major concerns over the fact that these dolphins were able to remove large pieces of plastic within their tank and swallow them. "Dolphins which in the wild travel hundreds of miles and dive hundreds of feet are totally unsuited to a life in a smooth plastic covered tank" states Marine Connection's Captivity Officer, Andrina Murrell. "It is very disturbing that the animals were able to remove these large pieces of plastic and one must wonder what condition their tank is in for this situation to be able to occur and what steps are being taken in order for this to be prevented in future."

The involvement of the "World's tallest man" to remove the plastic from the dolphins' stomachs has made this into a comedic tale. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that these intelligent and wide-ranging animals are being held in a restrictive and barren tank in obvious disrepair at Royal Ocean World in China.

Source: bbc.co.uk / Marine Connection