Cape & Islands News

More than ten dolphins strand in Wellfleet, seven rescued

One of seven was pregnant

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) reports that dolphin strandings continue on the Cape.  Friday just before noon, IFAW learned that ten more Common dolphins had stranded in Blackfish Creek in Wellfleet.

The rescue team worked most of the afternoon, according to Michael Booth, IFAW's communication officer.  Seven of the dolphins were able to swim away from Blackfish Creek.  One dolphin, which was pregnant, was transported to Herring Cove in Provincetown where she was released around 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Since the strandings began on January 12, according to Booth, 116 dolphins have stranded, of which 84 have died.

IFAW's rescue teams have worked all week treating and freeing dolphins along the bay side. Most recently, rescuers were in Brewster on Thursday where nine animals were treated and later released in Truro.

Yesterday in Washington DC, IFAW's Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Manager Katie Moore addressed Congress on the current dolphin stranding crisis.

Read more about the recent strandings here:

• IFAW rescues nine more dolphins after Brewster stranding
• Dolphin stranding mystery continues; member of IFAW team to address Congress later this week
• IFAW reports the death of two more dolphins Monday
  
• Kerry, Keating ask for NOAA's help in finding cause of dolphin strandings
  
• Seven more dolphins strand in Wellfleet Thursday
  
• Six stranded dolphins rescued in Wellfleet