Clinical assessment and postrelease monitoring of 11 mass stranded dolphins on Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Published source details Sampson K., Merigo C., Lagueux K., Rice J., Cooper R., Weber III E.S., Kass P., Mandelman J. & Innis C. (2012) Clinical assessment and postrelease monitoring of 11 mass stranded dolphins on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Marine Mammal Science, 28, 404-425.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Rescue and release stranded or trapped marine and freshwater mammals Action Link

Rescue and release stranded or trapped marine and freshwater mammals

A replicated study in 2005–2011 of multiple pelagic sites in the North Atlantic Ocean, near Cape Cod, USA (Sampson et al. 2012) found that all stranded Atlantic white-sided dolphins Lagenorhynchus acutus and a third of stranded short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis that were rescued and released survived for at least 1–7 months. All of eight Atlantic white-sided dolphins survived for at least 33–218 days after release. One of three short-beaked common dolphins survived for at least 65 days after release. Contact was lost with the two other common dolphins (including one juvenile) 8 h and 9 days after release, and it was not known if they died or satellite-tags failed. Eight Atlantic white-sided dolphins and three short-beaked common dolphins were rescued, satellite-tagged and released during seven mass stranding events in 2005–2010. Stranded dolphins were kept moist, shaded and comfortable. Behavioural observations, physical examinations and blood tests were carried out prior to release. The dolphins were released singly or in pairs at various locations on the same day as stranding. The 11 released dolphins were tracked for between 8 h and 218 days in 2005–2011.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)