Got called out to a beached dolphin on one of our beaches this morning about 10am.
Had been out of the water 1-2 hours, with cuts on it's beak and tail. Was about a year old, 4ft in length Common Dolphin.
Kept it as wet as possible, and were told by the Marine Stranded Animal something agency to keep it in the water, held by a few of us up to our waists until 2 marine biologists flew over.. apparently in the next hour.
4 hours later, the 4 of us are still nipple deep in the cold cold Atlantic sea! Wearing nothing but wellington boots, jeans and jumper.
Dolphin was hyperventilating a little, superficial cuts but seemed to be OK. After we calmed it down so it's breathing was back to normal, we borrowed a friend's RIB, and lifted the dolphin into it.
Drove about a mile north off the island, and jumped in with it (chucked a wet suit on first)... let it swim off, pushed it in the right direction, and followed it for 20 mins or so until it started diving... which it did! Although it lost it's pod, apparently it's old enough to look after itself now.
It lives!
So, despite the huge cost incurred (ie. 4 of us spending all day with this bloody thing, 1 vet for the day, 2x marine biologists and their flights), was a great experience. Always wanted to "swim with dolphins", but instead I held one for a few hours!
Had been out of the water 1-2 hours, with cuts on it's beak and tail. Was about a year old, 4ft in length Common Dolphin.
Kept it as wet as possible, and were told by the Marine Stranded Animal something agency to keep it in the water, held by a few of us up to our waists until 2 marine biologists flew over.. apparently in the next hour.
4 hours later, the 4 of us are still nipple deep in the cold cold Atlantic sea! Wearing nothing but wellington boots, jeans and jumper.
Dolphin was hyperventilating a little, superficial cuts but seemed to be OK. After we calmed it down so it's breathing was back to normal, we borrowed a friend's RIB, and lifted the dolphin into it.
Drove about a mile north off the island, and jumped in with it (chucked a wet suit on first)... let it swim off, pushed it in the right direction, and followed it for 20 mins or so until it started diving... which it did! Although it lost it's pod, apparently it's old enough to look after itself now.
It lives!
So, despite the huge cost incurred (ie. 4 of us spending all day with this bloody thing, 1 vet for the day, 2x marine biologists and their flights), was a great experience. Always wanted to "swim with dolphins", but instead I held one for a few hours!
