WELLFLEET, Mass. – Dozens of dolphins found themselves in a precarious situation around Cape Cod as animal rescuers worked tirelessly to steer them away from shallow waters. The International Fund for Animal Welfare reported that 125 Atlantic white-sided dolphins had stranded themselves, prompting a massive rescue effort.
On Saturday, teams in Massachusetts discovered a group of 10 dolphins swimming perilously close to shallow waters at dawn. With swift action, they managed to guide the dolphins back into deeper waters. Additionally, scouts located another group of 25 dolphins near Eastham, and efforts to herd them to safety continued as the tide receded throughout the morning.
Tragically, ten dolphins lost their lives during the stranding at The Gut, also known as Great Island in Wellfleet at the Herring River. This incident marked the largest mass-stranding in the organization’s 26-year history in the area, with The Gut being notorious for frequent strandings due to its unique shape and extreme tidal fluctuations.
Misty Niemeyer, the organization’s stranding coordinator, described the rescue mission as challenging, with rescuers contending with difficult mud conditions and the dolphins scattered across a vast area. Despite the obstacles, the team persevered throughout the 12-hour response under the scorching sun, determined to give the stranded dolphins the best chance at survival.
The rescue operation involved herding the dolphins on foot into deeper waters before utilizing three small boats equipped with underwater pingers to guide them further. Over 25 staff members from the organization and 100 trained volunteers, supported by various groups including the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the Center for Coastal Studies, AmeriCorps of Cape Cod, and the New England Aquarium, came together to lend their expertise and assistance in the rescue efforts.