posted March 23, 2011 07:15 PM            

The "Tsunami Dolphin" is quickly becoming an International story of hope. Some 12 days after the devastating earthquake in Japan and resulting tsunami, a finless porpoise has been rescued from a rice field in fair health.

Nearly a mile inland from the Japanese coastline, the dolphin was first spotted by a man - and later rescued by a 32-year old pet shop owner.

The rescuer, Ryo Taira, has been working since the natural disasters began in an effort to save pets and animals displaced by the catastrophic events.

"A man passing by said he had found the dolphin in the rice paddy and that we had to do something to save it," the 32-year-old Taira told Reuters.

Taira waded into the water and rescued the dolphin by hand, carrying it out. While he remains hopeful, he did caution, "I don't know if it will live, but it's certainly a lot better than dying in a rice paddy."