Two dolphins from a pod which rescued four swimmers from being attacked by a shark last week have been found slaughtered by fishermen.

The story of a pod of dolphins which encircled a group of four swimmers off the New Zealand coast and prevented a 3m-long great white shark from approaching, was reported around the world last week.

Lifeguard Rob Howes was swimming with his daughter and two of her friends when the incident occurred. The pod of dolphins encircled the swimmers for forty minutes, keeping the shark at bay until they were able to reach the shore.

Now two dolphins from the same pod have been found slaughtered after apparently becoming entangled in fishing nets placed illegally around Whangarei Harbour, North Island. The dolphin carcasses were found with their tails hacked off.

Restrictions on fishing are in place in New Zealand waters where dolphins are known to swim, in order to protect the mammals. Unfortunately many fishermen are willing to risk being fined because the fish catches in these protected areas are often more lucrative than in unrestricted areas.

The 'rescue' pod has been in the area for some while and is known to frequent the area around Whangarei Harbour, leading Wildlife Officers to conclude that the dead dolphins must be from that group.

The killing has provoked an outcry locally, with Rob Howes, the lifeguard rescued by the pod, denouncing the act as "indiscriminate murder".

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