The International Fund For Animal Welfare Rescued 10 Risso's dolphins that were stranded in Wellfeet Harbour.
It took a lot of heavy lifting, three transportation vehicle, and a few mugs of hot cocoa from a nearby resident to keep warm and motivated.
But after hours of coordinated effort of the dozens of volunteers and staffs from International Fund for Animal Welfare. They are able to successfully save the 10 dolphins on New Year's Day, Sunday.
The 10 dolphins were stranded because of a low tide in Wellfeet Harbour. The Risso's dolphins, identifiable as mature adults by the unusual white scars all over their skin. The dolphins were spotted by a resident 8 a.m. by a local resident.
International Fund For Animal Welfare arrived the location around 11 a.m. and began trying to herd the dolphins out to sea.
The IFAW spokesperson said two crews in two boats worked to turn the dolphins to deep water. However, they appeared intent on stranding. At about 3:30 p.m. the dolphins began to strand in the area of Chipman's Cove.
It takes about 10 people to lift each dolphin from the mud into trucks for transport. There were at least 15 people battled the wind and cold to get the dolphins safely into the trucks.
The dolphins were taken to Corn Hill Beach in Truro for release. Experts determined it would be the best location to let them go. Experts based it on the tides, the wind and the water depth, Branon said.
According to the South Coast Today, National Marine Fisheries Service said that this type of dolphins is not endangered. They can live from tropical to temperate zones. "We're hoping it's a Happy New Year for them," Branon said.
According to the Boston Globe, Kerry Branon, a spokeswoman for the International Fund For Animal Welfare said that the dolphins may have come near the shore while trying to catch prey.
