Stranded Dolphins Rescued Off Cape Cod

by Annie Hartnett · 2010-03-12 15:00:00 UTC
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Yesterday, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) rescued six Atlantic Whiteside dolphins off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

A total of sixteen dolphins were stranded yesterday. The dolphins were trapped in waist-deep mud, and ten dolphins could not be rescued. IFAW's Deputy Director of Programs, A.J, Cady, focused on the positive: "It's always difficult to find so many stranded animals. And although treacherous conditions make it impossible to rescue all the animals, we were able to give second chances to six of these wonderful creatures."

Atlantic Whiteside dolphins weigh 300 pounds and can measure up to eight feet in length. Although dolphins are air-breathing mammals, their massive body weight crushes their internal organs when they are out of water. Rescue efforts are a race against time.

Cape Cod is the number one spot in the United States for mass strandings of dolphins. Australia and New Zealand are other common stranding grounds. Scientists are not sure why the animals become stranded. Dolphins may chase food in shallow waters and then get washed ashore.

The rescue efforts to help stranded dolphins and whales are always inspiring to me. The tireless efforts of animal welfare workers and volunteers, as well as the extensive media coverage, prove that people truly care about these marine mammals. It was the top story on the news in Boston last night, and the most watched video on the Boston's Channel 5 news website today.

The IFAW's survival rates of stranded dolphins and whales has risen from 14 percent in 2004 to over 50 percent in 2009.

Photo Credit: Jen Fraiz

Annie Hartnett is a writer and animal advocate who has worked for several wildlife rehabilitation centers and environmental programs.
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