Largest Mass Stranding of Atlantic White-Sided Dolphins on Cape Cod Leaves Rescuers Facing Challenges
Up to 125 Atlantic white-sided dolphins were stranded on Cape Cod, with at least 10 fatalities reported during the rescue operation. The response team faced difficult conditions in the muddy terrain of the stranding site.
On Friday, up to 125 Atlantic white-sided dolphins were stranded on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The dolphins were found near Great Island on the Herring River in Wellfleet around 11:20 a.m. During the rescue effort, at least 10 of the dolphins died.
Cape Cod is known as a global hotspot for marine mammal strandings due to its geographic curvature and tidal fluctuations. Responders faced challenging conditions in the muddy terrain of the stranding site.
IFAW mobilized a team of 25 staff members and 100 volunteers to the location. They were joined by Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the Center for Coastal Studies, AmeriCorps of Cape Cod, the New England Aquarium, and the Wellfleet harbormaster. The rescue team used three small vessels and underwater pingers to guide the dolphins back to deeper waters.
This event marks the largest single mass-stranding in IFAW’s 25-year response history.
