An injured dolphin was saved by local fishermen and authorities off the coast in Wanning, S China's Hainan province on April 11, local media reported on Thursday.

The injured mammal was spotted struggling miles away from a pier in Wanning on Monday by a veteran fisherman, who reported the case to local authorities.

The dolphin was then dragged to the coast by police officers and staff from a local wild life rescue center dispatched to its rescue.

Initial inspection found 3 wounds on the dolphin's body, which experts speculate were caused by attacks from sharks, and the rescuers pulled a one-meter-long plastic product from the dolphin’s stomach, which it had probably swallowed due to difficulty to find food after injured.

The dolphin's situation is improved after treatment. It will be released back to the sea once fully recovers, according to the wild life rescue center.