Saturday, June 17, 2023

Heroes of the Week: Rescue Team Saves 9 Dolphins Near Massachusetts Coast

It takes a special kind of rescuer to help 1 dolphin let alone 9, and a team of rescuers helped 9 dolphins back into the deep ocean when they neared too close to the Massachusetts coast. Today's blog is about those heroes. 

PHOTO:   The International Fund for Animal Welfare's Cape Cod rescue team saved trapped dolphins. Credit: IFAW

9 dolphins saved off Massachusetts coast after swimming close to shore

By Nadine El-Bawab , May 4, 2023, 1:45 PM ABC News

At least nine dolphins were rescued and returned to the ocean after they were found swimming in shallow waters off the coast of Massachusetts this week, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Shortly after the rescue team's arrival, one dolphin swam off, while the remaining eight needed to be rescued from the shallow shores.

After receiving a health assessment and treatment, the mammals were released into deeper waters. Of the eight stranded dolphins, two were likely adults and the rest were likely sub-adults -- one a female and the rest were male.

Due to high winds, the dolphins were released at Duck Harbor in Wellfleet, Massachusetts -- the only area with safe conditions, according to the IFAW.

One of the eight dolphins rescued then returned to shore once again on Tuesday in Provincetown. The animal was assessed, treated and affixed with a temporary satellite tag. Rescue teams used kayaks to herd the animal before transporting it to deep waters. Wednesday transmissions from the satellite tag showed it swimming well north of Cape Cod.

Two other dolphins were then spotted in shallow waters Wednesday -- one in Barnstable Harbor and a second in Wellfleet, according to the IFAW. The two dolphins were taken together in a rescue vehicle to Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown. The IFAW said it affixed temporary satellite tags to three dolphins that appear to be swimming off-shore. 

A second dolphin also stranded on Tuesday and was reported swimming in Barnstable Harbor, between the boat slips. Rescuers used kayaks and vessel support from Milway Marina to herd the dolphin into an area where they could assess and treat it. The dolphin was affixed with a temporary satellite tag on its dorsal fin.

A third sub-adult female dolphin -- presumed to be the dolphin that swam away Monday -- without a tag was reported swimming close to shore near Wellfleet Pier, Massachusetts. Rescue teams used kayaks to herd the animal closer to shore so staff could remove it from the water for assessment and treatment before transporting it to a release site.

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I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob

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