Emergency crews in Jersey came to the aid of a pod of dolphins stranded in shallow waters on Monday.
Donna De Gruchy from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) reported that 13 dolphins found themselves trapped in a pool as the tide ebbed at La Rocque beach.
Rescue teams sprang into action, ensuring the dolphins remained in a pool approximately 3 feet (1 meter) deep until the rising tide provided them with an avenue back to deeper waters.
The collaborative effort involved BDMLR alongside Jersey Fire and Rescue, Jersey Coastguard, and the Government of Jersey Marine Resources.
Ms. De Gruchy described the initial uncertainty surrounding the situation when she was first notified.
“I was unsure about the nature of the situation,” she explained. “At that point, I called on everyone to attend, if possible, equipped with dry suits.”
Recognizing the need for assistance, she continued, “I understood that we would require some form of assistance.”
“At the outset, we were uncertain whether the dolphins were stranded on the sand or in a shallow body of water,” she added.
After assessing the scene, the team determined that the dolphins were confined to a shallow rock pool. As a precautionary measure, they readied equipment in case the pool dried up.
The rescue teams devised and tended to a dam, effectively causing the water level in the rock pool to rise.
“It provided the dolphins with a significantly larger area to navigate,” Ms. De Gruchy explained. “They were visibly stressed, but given the circumstances, it was the best course of action we could take at the time.”
As the tide began to swell, the team had to vacate the area, leaving behind one dolphin stranded on the beach and another calf experiencing difficulty.
“It was extremely distressing and nerve-wracking to witness, knowing there wasn’t much we could do as the water surged in,” Ms. De Gruchy recounted. “But given the circumstances presented to us, that was the extent of our capabilities.”
Ms. De Gruchy further revealed that the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) had been monitoring the dolphins for approximately two weeks and emphasized that they were on “high alert” during this period.