Bizarre Beachings

Excessive Dolphin Deaths Reported

Environment – More than 60 dolphins have been stranded along a 25-mile stretch of coastline in Cape Cod since mid January. 27 have died, 32 have washed ashore already dead, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has saved a mere 19 of the mammals.

Beached dolphins are a common occurrence from January to March in this area, however the numbers this year are extraordinarily high.

“I’ve been doing this for 15 years and this is only the second season I’ve seen it like this,” said Katie Moore, manager of the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program, a Yarmouth group that oversees the rescues.

“It feels like stranding after stranding after stranding [...] It’s definitely out of the ordinary,” she added.

Many of the dolphins rescued were tagged before their release to allow IFAW to monitor their habits and health. The team of 300 volunteers and six staff members will continue to monitor the beaches in hopes of reaching more stranded dolphins before it’s too late.

“IFAW works with all animals, working to protect pets, groups of animals and even habitats by reducing commercial exploitation of animals around the world.”

DONATE TO IFAW.

Read More Here, Here, and Here.