ATTEMPTS to get antibiotics into an injured dolphin are not proving successful.

Wildlife experts are trying to give the medication to Dave the Dolphin, who has been swimming off the coast at Folkestone and Hythe for the past 18 months.

They fear a serious injury to his tail, caused by a boat propeller could become infected and the dolphin, who is female, could die.

Members of British Divers Marine Life Rescue, who have been keeping an eye on the solitary dolphin since she first arrived in Shepway, have been trying to feed Dave fresh fish, injected with an antibiotic, but the animal is refusing to take them.

The rescue teams efforts on Wednesday afternoon were not successful and they were to try again Thursday and Friday.

Jason Carter, the Kent co-ordinator of BDMLR, said: "We are going out in a boat with a propeller guard and will get close to Dave for minimal time.

"If Dave won’t take the fish on Thursday we will instead focus on two small lumps of fishing line in her fin which are susceptible to infection. We’ll try to get that out, so that will be one less thing to worry about.

"We will try one more time on Friday and if this doesn’t work we will use a syringe pole to inject the antibiotics. Failing that we’ll use a dart.

"We want to keep her alive and these are the only options we have. It is unfortunate someone has gone out in a boat and accidentally injured her."

Dave has lost a quarter of her tail fin.

Mr Carter said: "It would be like losing part of a foot. Obviously she is in discomfort. When I first saw the injury I was nearly in tears.

"We want to reduce the risk of any infection coming in. We don’t want to see Dave die."

Since Dave’s arrival people have been asked to respect an exclusion zone around the wild animal, but many haven’t. Residents and holidaymakers have been going out in boats to see Dave and have tried to swim with her.

Wildlife experts have asked people to stay away as Dave is becoming humanised. He is not afraid of approaching boats or humans and has begun to crave human company.