In Wellfleet, Massachusetts, animal rescuers are working tirelessly to prevent dozens of dolphins from stranding in shallow waters around Cape Cod. Following a distressing event where 125 dolphins stranded themselves on Friday, efforts continued into Saturday to protect the remaining groups.
At dawn, rescuers from the International Fund for Animal Welfare located and guided a group of 10 Atlantic white-sided dolphins away from dangerously shallow areas into deeper waters. Simultaneously, another team spotted 25 dolphins near Eastham, with ongoing efforts to keep them away from shore as the tide receded.
Tragically, ten dolphins did not survive the initial stranding at The Gut in Wellfleet’s Herring River. This incident marks the largest mass-stranding the organization has faced in its 26-year history in the area. The geography of The Gut, characterized by its hook-like shape and dramatic tidal changes, contributes to frequent strandings.
Misty Niemeyer, the organization’s stranding coordinator, described the rescue operation as grueling, citing challenges such as difficult mud conditions and the scattered nature of the dolphins across a wide area. Despite these obstacles, the team persisted for 12 hours under intense sun, employing both on-foot herding and the use of small boats equipped with underwater pingers to guide the dolphins to safety.
Over 25 organization staff and 100 trained volunteers, supported by groups like Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the Center for Coastal Studies, AmeriCorps of Cape Cod, and the New England Aquarium, are collaborating in this extensive rescue effort.