Cape & Islands News

Six stranded dolphins rescued in Wellfleet

30 others stranded over the past weekend

WELLFLEET - A crew from the International Fund for Animal Welfare treated and released six rescued dolphins at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown Monday afternoon.  According to an IFAW spokesperson on the scene, six dolphins were rescued from Mayo Beach and Indian Neck earlier in the day in Wellfleet.  This recent stranding and rescue follows a mass stranding of some 30 dolphins over the weekend. At least 20 dolphins have died after washing up near several Cape Cod towns, an International Fund for Animal Welfare spokeswoman said Monday.

Between 40 and 50 common and Atlantic white-sided dolphins have been found stranded close to the shore since Thursday, and the number will likely rise, said IFAW spokeswoman Kerry Branon. Some animals were released Monday near Provincetown, bringing the total number of animals saved to 19.

History repeats itself on the same day

Ironically on this same weekend in 2006 a similar stranding occurred. That time the Cape Cod Stranding Network (CCSN) tried to rescue ten stranded dolphins and saved half of them. Two dolphins were found in Rock Harbor suffering from dehydration and other injuries.

Rescue crews attempted to save the dolphins, but were unsuccessful. They were humanely euthanized to end their suffering.  See "It Happened TODAY on Cape Cod" here.

Below the IFAW members wade into a frigid Cape Cod Bay to return the dolphins from the video above. Photos and video by David G. Curran.