#SaveTheStranded
Dolphin Rescue Center
Rescue center boosts survival for stranded dolphins on Cape CodNew rescue center improves chances of survival for stranded dolphins on Cape Cod
(Yarmouth Port, MA – August 24, 2023) -- A first-of-its-kind rehabilitation facility for dolphins and porpoises fills a critical unmet need as it opens on Cape Cod, U.S, this August 2023.
Wildlife rescue and conservation organisation IFAW has become internationally recognised for its dolphin rescue and research expertise for 25 years. IFAW’s research and innovation has led to groundbreaking response techniques and increased survival rates for marine mammals, both locally and in similar mass stranding hotspots around the world.
“With the new facility, we aim to improve the survivability of stranded dolphins and porpoises,” said Brian Sharp, Director of IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue & Research team.
“Cape Cod sees more instances of live mass strandings of dolphins than anywhere else in the world. Currently there are no such facilities for dolphins north of Florida, leaving IFAW staff to treat stranded animals solely in the field.”
"However, some dolphins cannot receive the care they need to survive under the current paradigm," Sharp adds. "To have a chance at survival, these animals require additional diagnostics, treatments and sometimes simply additional recovery time that can only be provided at a dedicated facility."
IFAW has outfitted a former retail space with a room containing two large pools and accompanying filtration systems to accommodate stranded dolphins. The pools are each between 4.3 to 4.9 metres in diameter and hold up to 17,000 litres of water. The facility will also include office space and a veterinary laboratory.
Stranded animals will be accommodated for no more than four days in the facility, and IFAW initially expects to accommodate about 12 patients a year. The facility will be staffed 24 hours a day when treating patients.
While the facility will not be open to the public, Sharp said IFAW has created a public outreach centre in the front room of the facility with educational materials and a closed-circuit television that will allow people to view activity in the facility.
The project is financed in part by a contribution from the Dutch Postcode Lottery, which includes rent for the facility, construction of the rehabilitation pools and water filtration system, food and medicine for the animals, and additional staff salary and equipment (gloves, booties, dry suits).
IFAW has been federally permitted under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to respond to stranded marine animals on the Cape for 25 years. In the last five years, IFAW staff have responded to more than 400 live stranded dolphins, whales and porpoises.
Cape Cod’s first Dolphin Rescue Center opens this August and will be ready to provide rapid response and intensive care for stranded dolphins and porpoises in this global stranding hotspot.
END
Notes to editor:
Media contacts:
Stacey Hedman
+1 508 737 2558
shedman@ifaw.org
every problem has a solution, every solution needs support.
The problems we face are urgent, complicated, and resistant to change. Real solutions demand creativity, hard work and involvement from people like you.
Unfortunately, the browser you use is outdated and does not allow you to display the site correctly. Please install any of the modern browsers, for example:
Google Chrome Firefox Safari