Hopeful News As The First Patient Of Dolphin Rescue Center Has Been Successfully Released In Cape Cod

Photos by: IFAW

A first-of-its kind short-term rehabilitation facility for dolphins and porpoises has received and successfully released its first patient, following a report of a stranded dolphin in Brewster, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 

After this dolphin was discovered stranded, IFAW transported the at-risk dolphin in its mobile dolphin rescue vehicle to the organization’s Dolphin Rescue Center to increase its chance of survival prior to releasing it back into the wild. After less than 24 hours at the Center, the dolphin was transported to Herring Cove, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where it was successfully released back into the ocean fitted with a small temporary satellite tag.

“This is a major innovative step forward for our program that will advance and inform marine mammal rescue efforts globally,” said Brian Sharp, Director of IFAW’s marine mammal rescue team. “This facility fills a critical unmet need on the Cape where our team responds to an average of 70 live dolphins per year.”

After receiving a report on Sunday morning of a live dolphin being stuck and thrashing in the surf on a beach in Brewster, Cape Cod, the IFAW team rushed in and safely secured the animal. Due to poor release conditions from bad weather and the animal’s compromised health from the stranding event, the team transported the dolphin and admitted it to the Dolphin Rescue Center.

During the dolphin’s short stay at the center, the animal received around-the-clock care from IFAW’s team of veterinary experts, rescue staff, and volunteer responders who continuously monitored the animal, and reassessed its health based on diagnostics including serial blood work and ultrasound. Animals are only held as long as their clinical signs indicate that they are not releasable with a maximum time of four days at the center.

“For this dolphin, additional care was the only way for the animal to have a chance at survival,” said Dr. Sarah Sharp, IFAW’s animal rescue veterinarian. “He was suffering from shock, seawater aspiration, and trauma from the stranding event, but responded well to supportive care and treatments the team provided.”

The Dolphin Rescue Center seeks to improve post-release survival for live stranded small cetaceans suffering from acute conditions. Through the advanced diagnostics and extended care provided, work at the center will help to inform treatment protocols and disposition decisions for stranded dolphins across the globe. The center will also provide training to regional, national, and international responders as part of IFAW’s Academy of Rescue & Conservation.

The Dolphin Rescue Center was made possible in part by generous contributions from the Dutch Post Code Lottery the Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital, the prestigious Prescott Grant, Ian Webb, and Michael Rosenzweig.

Wildlife rescue and conservation organization IFAW has become internationally recognized for its dolphin rescue and research expertise with its marine mammal rescue team celebrating their 25-year anniversary in November 2023. During that time span, IFAW responded to over 7,000 strandings.