Cape & Islands News

IFAW reports the death of two more dolphins Monday

UPDATE: Two dolphin die Monday

The Marine Mammal Rescue Team from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is working to save another dolphin today after a long week of beachings along the shores of Cape Cod Bay.

Earlier today, the IFAW team headed to Wellfleet where a lone stranded dolphin was reported.  Unfortunately, the dolphin died shortly after being found this morning, according to IFAW Senior Program Advisor AJ Cady.

IFAW reports that a second dolphin was successfully guided out of the marsh at Rock Harbor in Orleans but remains close to shore. As of 4 p.m., IFAW reported that the second dolphin has died after stranding on a standbar off Crosby Beach in Brewster. The dolphin died as rescuers began to move it to a rescue trailer for emergency treatment.

This weekend, IFAW's Marine Mammal Rescue Team, assisted by volunteers, surveyed Cape beaches in search of dolphins in jeopardy.  No rescues were attempted until today.

According to Cady, a NOAA crew aboard an observation plane has joined the efforts to rescue wayward dolphins. The crew is canvassing Cape Cod waters in search of large concentrations of dolphins. On Friday, Senator John Kerry and Congressman Bill Keating sent a joint letter to Jane Lubchenco, head of NOAA, asking for the federal administration's help in locating, rescuing and preventing the stranding of more dolphins.

This past week has seen an abnormally high number of dolphin strandings along Cape Cod's beaches from Dennis to Wellfleet. According to Cady, at least eighty-six dolphins have beached as of late. IFAW rescuers have successfully released twenty-four dolphins back into open waters.

Click here to read more dolphin rescue coverage.