Common dolphin refloated from Scilly Isles beach

06/05/2009 08:35:37

Dolphin rescue

April 2009. A dramatic and successful rescue took place on the Isle of Scilly on Tuesday 5th May. At 10.40am British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) received the news that a Common dolphin had stranded on a beach near Old Grimsby, Tresco, on the Isle of Scilly.

In a tough logistical operation involving BDMLR headquarters in Uckfield, East Sussex and Dave Jarvis (BDMLR Cornwall Regional Co-ordinator), with help from the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust , started organising a rescue team to attend the site. BDMLR medics Dan Jarvis and Tim Bain in Cornwall headed to the Heliport at Penzance to be flown across to the Scilly Isles with their equipment by British International Helicopters. A boat then met the rescue team at St Marys before taking them to New Grimsby where they were picked up by the Coastguard and driven to the site of the stranding.

"This was one of the hardest rescues to organise as we don't normally have to go to these lengths to get a rescue team to the site of a stranding" said Trevor Weeks, the National Co-ordinator based at Uckfield in East Sussex.

Local residents, the Coastguard and a local vet, Dr Heike Dorn, were all on site at an early stage and were in touch with BDMLR Head Office, who gave them advice on first aid and on looking after the stranded animal until medics arrived.

Pictures were taken and e-mailed to BDMLR HQ to check on the size, species and body condition of the dolphin. The local coastguard were given advice on holding the dolphin in the water and guided through the early stages of helping prepare the dolphin for a possible re-floatation once the rescue team arrived on site.

Common dolphin
The dolphin was 157cm in length and identified as a Common Dolphin. "There are some minor grazes to the beak and fins but these are not causing our medics and vet any concern, and the lumbar muscle is in good condition. The lumbar muscle, which runs down the back of the animal, is a good indicator of the animal's body condition. This animal appears to be a juvenile common dolphin. We have previously had juvenile dolphins getting caught out by the tide and sand bars so we suspect this dolphin has stranded due to navigational error in the shallow water there" said Cornwall Co-ordinator Dave Jarvis.

Tim and Dan arrived and confirmed the dolphin's body was in good condition. BDMLR veterinary consultants James Barnett and Darryl Thorpe also helped advise on the situation, and they confirmed that the dolphin's condition was good enough to attempt a refloating. Helped by the coastguard, Tim and Dan were able to take the dolphin out to sea to deeper water whilst helping to regain the dolphins equilibrium before releasing the dolphin.

Deep water
"We had to take it 2 miles off shore to deep enough water to attempt the refloat. At first it swam off slowly then seemed to gain its confidence and swan off healthily into the distance" said Tim Bain.

"This is a great success and a timely one as BDMLR is running a marine mammal medic training course on the Isles of Scilly this Sunday. We would like to thank all the local residents, staff from the Island Hotel, local vet, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust and Coastguard for all their help and support" said Dave Jarvis.

Mammal Medic Course
Anyone wanting to learn how to help stranded dolphins should check out BDMLR's website www.bdmlr.org.uk. BDMLR train volunteer Marine Mammal Medics on their Marine Mammal Medic Training Courses around the country including courses on the Isle of Scilly this weekend and at Bewl Water on the Kent & Sussex border on 16th May.