The Guardian News is looking back at the most popular stories from the year that was ...
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In July the story that captured your hearts was the sad news that beloved local icon, Bucky the dolphin, had passed away.
Bucky was Dolphin Marine Conservation Park's oldest and much-loved resident.
He was rescued from the Nambucca River over 45 years ago as an infant dolphin, extremely sunburnt and dehydrated.
Bucky's mother, Sandy, was with him but also severely injured, so both were brought back to the park for rehabilitation. Ultimately, neither dolphin was deemed releasable and so made their home at the Park.
After being an incredible veterinary success story with an internationally-watched operation, the cancer that seemed to have been beaten returned to claim Bucky in the end.