Mass Dolphin Strandings Continue- 5 Rescued, 2 Die- Wellfleet, MA (01-19-12)

WELLFLEET - Seven dolphins stranded earlier today on the mud flats of the Herring River area of Wellfleet - two died and five were alive as of late this afternoon.

Worries about Cape dolphin strandingsDolphin strandings one of Cape's 'largest'As of 2:15 p.m., International Fund for Animal Welfare rescuers had carried two live dolphins off the low-tide mud flats and loaded them onto a truck.

After an examination of their health, IFAW planned to transport all rescued dolphins to Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown, where they would be released.


Early this afternoon staff members from the Wellfleet harbormaster's office were keeping an eye on about 60 to 70 dolphins swimming in Wellfleet Harbor, Sharp said. They are concerned those dolphins may become in jeopardy.

Today's strandings come on the heels of other strandings within the past week, including Saturday when about 30 dolphins were involved in what IFAW officials termed "one of the largest dolphin strandings in this area ever." Officials found stranded dolphins in Dennis, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet.

As of yesterday, 27 dolphins had been found alive and 19 have been released in local waters, according to Katie Moore, director of the marine mammal rescue team. Six dolphins that stranded on Wellfleet beaches Monday were released at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown.

Most marine mammal strandings occur between January and April and Cape Cod is one of the world's hot spots for strandings. But the reason why these animals end up stranded remains elusive, various experts have said.

capecodonline.com

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