Featured Image Credit: Dan Jarvis
By Emily Persico
In the wake of several dead porpoise and dolphin strandings, one dolphin last week was saved and released back into the ocean. Several members of the public are to thank for this bright light in the darkness.
While walking along Polpeor Cove at Lizard Point in Cornwall, a beach-goer spotted the troubled dolphin trapped in a small rocky pool. An emergency hotline was called immediately. When the first responders arrived, a small crowd was already gathered around the dolphin doing all they could to help.
The medics gave the dolphin a small dose of medication and then gently lifted her from cove to car. Here, one medic was assigned to gently splash water on her and keep her calm while the team travelled to a nearby beach with a lower risk of stranding.
Together, the team gave the dolphin the all-clear and released her into the ocean at Porthoustock beach. She will be one of the few to survive such strandings in the area. Earlier last week, three dolphins were found washed up on the shore, too late to be saved.
Luckily, the trend in increased strandings is occasionally interrupted by successes such as this one. If you see an animal in need, make sure to call an emergency hotline immediately. You may just save the animal’s life.