Scores of volunteers have been working overnight in a desperate bid to save a 32-foot stranded humpback baby whale which ran aground on a beach in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.

The rescue mission was joined today by JCB diggers rented by concerned locals who formed human chains passing buckets of water to throw over the stricken mammal.

Biologists at the scene said the animal is still alive and trying its best to react by opening its eyes and moving slightly. 

A baby humpback whale ran aground in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, overnight on Wednesday prompting a huge rescue effort by locals

A baby humpback whale ran aground in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, overnight on Wednesday prompting a huge rescue effort by locals

Volunteers spent the night pouring water over the 32ft creature to keep it from overheating while others tried to dig away the sand from around it

Volunteers spent the night pouring water over the 32ft creature to keep it from overheating while others tried to dig away the sand from around it

Volunteers spent the night pouring water over the 32ft creature to keep it from overheating while others tried to dig away the sand from around it

The rescuers were joined by diggers on Thursday as they attempted to dig a channel to the ocean, allowing tide waters to come in and refloat the animal naturally

The rescuers were joined by diggers on Thursday as they attempted to dig a channel to the ocean, allowing tide waters to come in and refloat the animal naturally

The rescuers were joined by diggers on Thursday as they attempted to dig a channel to the ocean, allowing tide waters to come in and refloat the animal naturally

But they said they do not want to push or physically move the creature as this could cause harm to the animal’s internal organs.

A video shows the race against time to save the grounded beast, which has been stuck in the sand for nearly 24 hours.

Photographer Bebeto Karolla who has been covering the scene for local paper Folha de Buzios said: ‘When the tide was out, the whale became parched and dry and people have been taking turns throwing water over it to try to keep it alive.’

He complained that environmental authorities had not offered help to save the whale and most of the rescue was being done by hundreds of locals.

According to biologists, the whale, which weighs around seven tons, was found washed up yesterday afternoon on the shores of Rasa Beach in Armaçao dos Buzios, a tourist resort around 120 miles outside the Rio capital.

Workers are hesitant to move the creature themselves because they fear the strain will cause potentially fatal damage to its internal organs

Workers are hesitant to move the creature themselves because they fear the strain will cause potentially fatal damage to its internal organs

Workers are hesitant to move the creature themselves because they fear the strain will cause potentially fatal damage to its internal organs

Biologists say the animal weighs seven tons, but its body is not made to cope with the pressure of that weight because it is usually suspended in water

Biologists say the animal weighs seven tons, but its body is not made to cope with the pressure of that weight because it is usually suspended in water

Biologists say the animal weighs seven tons, but its body is not made to cope with the pressure of that weight because it is usually suspended in water

Volunteers say the whale was found crying out and flailing around in distress, but has gone quiet as it weakens and now only occasionally opens its eye

Volunteers say the whale was found crying out and flailing around in distress, but has gone quiet as it weakens and now only occasionally opens its eye

Volunteers say the whale was found crying out and flailing around in distress, but has gone quiet as it weakens and now only occasionally opens its eye

Humpback whales come to the shores off Rio to mate, give birth and raise their young from July until November before heading off into deeper waters

Humpback whales come to the shores off Rio to mate, give birth and raise their young from July until November before heading off into deeper waters

Humpback whales come to the shores off Rio to mate, give birth and raise their young from July until November before heading off into deeper waters

Rescuers said the creature, which is in shock, was moaning, screaming and crying from pain and fright as they tried to mount a more organised effort.

Teams of helpers first tried to dig the creature out themselves. Their urgent efforts were given a boost today as two mechanical excavators arrived to bolster the campaign.

The plan is to dig a ditch deep enough around the marine puppy in the hope that as the sea flows in, the water will refloat the animal.

Buzios local authority waived beach regulations to allow the diggers onto the beach to help in the rescue attempt. 

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