Kategorie: News
21 Dolphins Stranded—Twelve Survived
On August 12, a dramatic rescue operation took place on a beach west of Daingean Uí Chúis in County Kerry, Ireland: 21 common dolphins had stranded, including adults and calves. Rescuers were able to guide twelve back into the Atlantic, but for nine, it was too late—they had already died before the rescue teams arrived.
Kevin Flannery, director of the Oceanworld Aquarium Dingle, was the first to respond to the report and took the necessary steps. He immediately requested assistance from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). In the end, in addition to the experts, numerous locals, tourists, and even officers from the local police (Garda) helped carry the twelve surviving animals back into the water together. According to the IWDG, the organization expressly thanked all the volunteers for this “enormous effort.”
What at first glance appears to be a tragic isolated incident is part of a longer-term trend: Since the early 2010s, the IWDG has recorded a significant increase in strandings of common dolphins in Irish waters—from an average of 20 to 40 reported cases per year at that time to 150 to 240 annually today. The exact cause of this increase has not yet been conclusively determined.
One possible factor: Numerous sailors and fishermen have reported to the IWDG that they have sighted significantly more dolphins off the Irish coast in recent years than in the past—an impression that is consistent with scientific data indicating an increase in the number of common dolphins near the coast, presumably linked to shifts in their prey fish populations. More animals near the coast do not necessarily mean more deaths, but they can statistically lead to more strandings. In many places, bycatch in fisheries is considered another cause: Studies from neighboring countries such as France show that entanglement in fishing gear is one of the most common causes of death among stranded common dolphins.
Taking the Right Action in Case of a Stranding
The experts also used the incident to reiterate important guidelines: Stranded dolphins should never be pulled by their tails, as this can injure their sensitive spines. Instead, the animal should be carefully brought into an upright position—only then can both lungs function normally. It is also important to maintain a sufficient distance from the blowhole. According to the IWDG, if these basic rules are followed, dolphins can certainly survive for several hours out of the water before being returned to the sea.
This recent case thus demonstrates two things: how much a quickly organized rescue can still achieve even in difficult situations—and how important it remains to continue investigating the causes of the increasing number of strandings on Ireland’s coasts.
More information:
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG)