A rare rough-toothed dolphin that beached itself in south China's Guangdong Province has been rescued and will soon be released back into the sea.

Police received reports on a dolphin being stranded on the coast of Heisha Bay in the city of Jiangmen on Wednesday, and called the Pearl River Estuary Chinese White Dolphin National Nature Reserve for help, said Chen Xi, who works at the reserve.

Chen, who helped with the rescue, said the 2.2-meter dolphin is an adult male and was suffering from breathing problems, hypothermia, muscle injuries and malnutrition when it was found.

Rescuers helped the mammal with its breathing, administered antibiotics, and fed it to gain strength, Chen said.

The dolphin is currently in a pool designated for dolphin rescue at the reserve and will soon be released.

The rough-toothed dolphin is listed among the country's second class protection animals. While it can be found in deep tropical, subtropical and temperate waters around the world, it is a rare visitor to Guangdong waters.

In 2014, a stranded rough-toothed dolphin died in Guangdong despite rescue efforts.

(Source: Xinhua)