The dolphins, two females and one male, are more than 20 years old, said a marine expert who rushed to the scene in the Muang district in Phuket province, The Bangkok Post reported.

The sea mammals were found by fishermen early Saturday. Local villagers helped dig holes for the dolphins to keep their heads and skins wet while they waited for the tide to rise, which would give the dolphins a chance to swim back to the sea, the newspaper said.

Veterinarian Kongkiat Kiatwattanawong said the dolphins were members of rare breed.

It was unclear how the dolphins became tangled in the vegetation.