Last weekend, on the shore of an island south of Nova Scotia, seven dolphins were spotted stranded in shallow water.
Dolphins saved in Nova Scotia’s south shore
A little island’s inhabitants are credited with rescuing a pod of dolphins that had become trapped off the south shore of Nova Scotia.
Seven dolphins were reported to be trapped in shallow seas off McNutt’s Island on Sunday morning by the Marine Animal Response Society (MARS).
Two adult and three juvenile white-sided dolphins were found stranded in Hagars Cove by MARS responders and volunteers when they arrived.
The animals appeared to be in decent shape and were declared healthy enough to be released, according to a social media post.
How did the Dolphins rescued off McNutt’s Island?
Last weekend, a stranded pod of dolphins was rescued from a shallow cove by inhabitants of a small island off the South Shore of Nova Scotia, according to a marine animal rescue responder.
Around 10 a.m. on Sunday, the Marine Animal Response Society received a call notifying them that five to seven dolphins were stuck in Hagars Cove on McNutt’s Island, according to response specialist Andrew Reid.
Reid gave the credit for keeping the dolphins off the rocks and half submerged while they awaited assistance during a receding tide to the locals.
He said, “That was very fantastic. It provided us some time to hastily prepare our equipment, work out plans with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and begin our two-hour journey down there.
Dolphins could perish when they are out of the water because they overheat “quite quickly.” “We were aware that time was limited.”
Two adults and three juvenile dolphins were trapped in the cove when MARS and DFO officers arrived at the island, according to Reid.
Statements by specialist Andrew Reid
We had to act swiftly since we were aware that the tide was going out, he continued. The crew positioned the animals so that they were upright and shielded from the sun by wet sheets.
Individual dolphins frequently become stranded when they are ill or injured, according to Reid. However, it “looks quite likely” that this pod entered the small, v-shaped cove after making a mistake turn while chasing mackerel that were circling the area.
The dolphins were “high and dry” an hour after MARS arrived, according to Reid, and would have most likely perished soon after if they hadn’t reacted.
The rescuers concluded that the best way to free the dolphins was to carry them overland across the constrained protrusion that lines the lagoon’s western edge after learning that the bay was made up of multiple sandbars.
Reid described the situation as “a little tricky,” noting that the landscape was covered with huge cobblestones and was, therefore “tough to work with.”
The animals were moved in “dolphin stretchers” across to the seashore on the other side using an ATV with a trailer that was provided by a member of the community.
There was no possibility, according to Reid, that they could have been transported the required distance. Starting with the heaviest animal, which weighed about 250 kilos, rescuers carried the others into the water.
It was amazing to witness how vocalizing and calling out to the grownups they were when we first started bringing the youngsters around, the man remarked. I believe they were rather excited.
Reid claimed that white-sided dolphins can be seen frequently in Nova Scotia.
They do get into difficulty, he said. “We regularly see them as they move in closer to shore.” They struggle to navigate the shallow coastal waters.
He said that dolphins have been observed chasing prey up rivers.
According to Reid, the rescuers released all five dolphins simultaneously as soon as they had all of them close to open water.
It was wonderful to observe, he continued, that “they all went out together and proceeded in the proper route.”
According to Reid, mass strandings happen frequently, and each one is unique based on the environment, the animal, and the person assisting.
He claimed that circumstances like these often bring out the best in the neighborhood.
Everyone wants to lend a hand, and it’s a perfect example of a federal organization, a non-profit like MARS, and then the local community working together to produce a great result, according to Reid.
He advised anyone wishing to assist in rescue efforts to first seek advice from MARS due to the potential danger posed by marine animals.
Dolphins were carefully transferred – MARS
Before the tide turned, the two further dolphins were observed swimming away from the area.
As the tide began to recede, people of the local community kept the remaining dolphins cool with sheets and seaweed.
The creatures were then transported across the bay to deeper water using an ATV, a trailer, and a dolphin stretcher.
The dolphins were carefully watched while being transferred, according to MARS, to ensure their stability.
After being refloated and freed, the creatures could be seen swimming together toward open water.
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Anyone in the Maritimes who notices a dead, distressed, or injured marine animal is urged to contact MARS at 1-866-567-6277, according to the organization.
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