| Ten more dolphins stranded on the Cape; annual total rises to more than 200
At least 10 more dolphins stranded themselves on the beaches of Cape Cod this week, a Cape-based animal welfare group said. 16, 179 dolphins were stranded on the shores of Cape Cod. "Those are animals that have been in problematic areas where they would have surely stranded had we not gone out and herded these animals into deeper water," he said. After treating the live dolphins, IFAW was able to successfully release 71 dolphins into deeper water – a success rate of about 76 percent. In addition to rescuing and treating stranded dolphins, Booth said, the group has assisted to lead nearly 100 dolphins out of dangerous situations since Jan. 12 and Feb. We did have a success rate before this of around 60 to 70 percent, but now with this particularly high stranding season, we've got that percent up to 76 percent, which is great. In total this year, 208 dolphins have stranded themselves on Cape Cod beaches. "It's an all-time high for us," Booth said. Nine of the 10 were released to the ocean; the 10th had to be euthanized because it had already sustained some injuries, he said. The most recent strandings come after the end of what was the largest single-species stranding event on record in the Northeast. Six more dolphins stranded Tuesday -- two in Wellfleet, three in Brewster, and one in Orleans, Booth said. Booth said the month of near-daily strandings allowed the group to put its skills and resources to the test and hone the skills of its small army of volunteers. Ten more dolphins stranded on the Cape; annual total rises to more than 200 |
Saturday 31 March 2012
Ten more dolphins stranded on the Cape; annual total rises to more than 200
