Animal Casualties
An estimated 13 dolphins died and one must be euthanized, as indicated by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which assisted in spearheading the salvage attempt.
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The not-for-profit said it was the biggest mass stranding it had overseen on the Cape during its 26-year history locally.
Reason for Stranding
According to rescuers, there is no clear explanation for why these dolphins became stuck.
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Due to its curved shores and erratic tides, Cape Cod is known as a global stranding hotspot.
Initial Discovery
Groups in Massachusetts found one gathering of 10 Atlantic white-sided dolphins swimming in a perilously shallow region at sunrise on Saturday.
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They managed to usher them out into deeper water in order to prevent them from stranding.
Larger Groups
According to the organization, Scouts also discovered a second group of 25 dolphins swimming close to the shore near Eastham.
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Groups attempted to herd them away as the tide dropped over the course of the morning.
Known Location
Ten dolphins died during the stranding Friday at The Gut — or Great Island — in Wellfleet, at the Herring River.
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The Gut is the site of continuous strandings, which specialists accept is expected to some degree due to its hook-like shape and extreme tidal changes.
Numerous Obstacles
The organization’s stranding coordinator, Misty Niemeyer, stated over the weekend that rescuers encountered numerous obstacles on Friday.
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These difficulties included adverse mud conditions and the dispersed dolphin population over a large area.
Niemeyer Statement
Niemeyer made the following remarks in a statement: “It was a 12-hour exhausting response in the unrelenting sun.”
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She went on to say, “But the team was able to overcome the various challenges and give the dolphins their best chance at survival.”
Rescue Efforts
The group says that the team started out on foot, herding the animals into deeper water
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They then used three small boats with underwater pingers, which make noise underwater.
Staff and Volunteers
Those assisting with the rescue effort included over 25 staff from the association and 100 trained volunteers.
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The gathering additionally had the help of Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the Center for Coastal Studies, AmeriCorps of Cape Cod, and the New England Aquarium.
Position in US
According to reporting from WCVB Boston, the area receives the most strandings of anywhere in the US.
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But the numbers recorded over the weekend were the largest ever in the organization’s history.
Wellfleet Harbor
The difficult terrain extended to Wellfleet Harbor which itself has a hook shape making it a dangerous trap for marine life.
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The gently sloping beaches in the area and the fine sediment also caused issues for the dolphins.
Some of the dolphins that survived the stranding returned to the area once the tides were higher.