Rescue mounted after mass dolphin stranding in Skye

A mass stranding occurred when 12 common dolphins became beached in Portree Bay on the Isle of Skye recently.

 

"attachment_769582" "" "225"] The BDLMR team worked alongside emergency services including Portree RNLI and the Coastguard.

 

Local emergency services and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR) team were called to the site as offers of help from the community flooded in.

 

Out of 12 animals there were three fatalities but the remaining nine pod members returned to sea later that evening. A definite cause is currently unknown.

 

On the morning of Sunday August 14 Isle of Skye residents were alarmed to notice a pod of dolphins stranded on the shore of Loch Portree.

 

BDLMR, the organisation responsible for cetacean strandings in the UK, were mobilised alongside emergency services including Portree RNLI and the Coastguard.

 

Although rescuers were unable to reach the pod due to the fast-incoming tide the nine remaining dolphins were eventually able to free themselves. The RNLI RIB was deployed to usher them away from the shallows. The pod then moved into deeper

 

water and the emergency teams were provisionally stood down.

 

However, the dolphins still showed unusual behaviour, so BDMLR continued to monitor them from the shore in case of a restranding. At around 7pm the pod moved out into the deeper water of the Sound of Raasay and the rescue was called-off.

 

"attachment_769594" "" "300"] One of the three fatalities.

 

There were three fatalities, one calf and two adults (one male and one female).

 

The Scottish Marine Animals Stranding Scheme (SMASS) arrived on Skye on the morning of Monday August 15 to collect the carcasses for testing.

 

At present no further reports have been made of the dolphins. However the public are being urges to call BDMLR if they spot any more.

 

This is the first mass stranding event on Skye since the 2015 whale stranding in Staffin, where 21 long-finned pilot whales beached themselves due to a pod member struggling with birth complications. After an almost 24-hour operation, BDMLR managed to successfully refloat 18 of the animals back out to sea.

 

Whale and dolphin mass stranding events (MSEs) may occur for a number of different reasons, both natural and human-made. Disease or injury, problems with echolocation, military activity, sonar and excessive underwater noise are some of the known causes.

 

SMASS are currently conducting necropsies and tests on the three dead cetaceans to try to determine what the cause may be. Their research goes towards preventing similar incidents in the future.

 

In a joint statement, BDMLR area co-ordinators Katie Tunn and Harry Martin said: 'This was a really difficult situation but we’re very grateful to all involved.

 

'Having the support of the emergency services in these situations is invaluable and it was heartening to have so many offers of help from the local community.

 

'Strandings are obviously very distressing events and it’s always sad when these beautiful animals die, hopefully there is something that we can learn from this.

 

'We hope that we won’t have another incident like this here for a very, very long time.'

 

Important information:

 

If you see a live stranded marine animal on the shore that appears sick or injured please call the BDMLR emergency hotline immediately on 01825 765546.

 

Please do not approach the animal and ensure that all dogs and people are kept at a distance. This is important for both yourself and for the welfare of the animal.

 

Never touch a stranded animal and please do not attempt to put it back in the water as it prevents the carrying out of assessments by vets and BDMLR emergency teams.

 

If the animal is deceased please report it to SMASS on 07979 245893 along with a location and any photographs you are able to take.

 

For further information, please contact BDMLR Head Office on 01825 765546 or

 

email: info@bdmlr.org.uk.