Featured Image Credit: Melanie Mahoney
By Laura O’Brien
Rescuers were able to successfully save a group of dolphins which were stranded on Ellis Beach on Monday, March 26. Around 1:30 pm, a report was sent to the International Fund for Animal Welfare which stated that a group of dolphins was swimming close to the shore. IFAW sent a responder who was able to quickly assess the situation. The responder arrived at the beach about 10 minutes later. Due to their preparation, an IFAW rescue team was already onshore when several of the dolphins stranded around 3:30 pm. The rescue team assessed the dolphins that had become stranded and deemed them to be uninjured and in good health.
The team was able to refloat two of the five dolphins that were initially stranded. The remaining three dolphins were taken to a better release site in West Dennis Beach. The spokesperson for the Yarmouth Port organization, Melanie Mahoney, said, “IFAW rescue teams look for a variety of factors when assessing a suitable release site. We look for quick, open access to deep water for the dolphins, as well as the movement of tides and calm waves and wind”. The three dolphins were successfully released at 7:00 pm.
Strandings can occur to healthy dolphins, such as the five who were rescued on Ellis Beach, during tide changes. But, strandings are often a sign of unhealthy marine life. They can often signal environmental problems such as pollution, or debris which can affect marine animals’ health and cause them to strand. It is important to report any wounded, stranded, or dead marine mammals and sea turtles. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website has a page which allows users in the United States to find their local stranding network.
This page can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/report .
Learn more from our sources, http://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20180328/dolphins-rescued-after-stranding-in-brewster , and https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/03/28/stranded-dolphins-stranded-brewster-released-back-into-sea/7s8cS9JJju5Jv0t3f4m53H/story.html