Rescue and release of mass stranded cetaceans from beaches on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA; 1990–1999: a review of some response actions
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Published source details
Wiley D.N., Early G., Mayo C.A. & Moore M.J. (2001) Rescue and release of mass stranded cetaceans from beaches on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA; 1990–1999: a review of some response actions. Aquatic Mammals, 27, 162-171.
Published source details Wiley D.N., Early G., Mayo C.A. & Moore M.J. (2001) Rescue and release of mass stranded cetaceans from beaches on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA; 1990–1999: a review of some response actions. Aquatic Mammals, 27, 162-171.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
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Rescue and release stranded or trapped marine and freshwater mammals Action Link |
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Rescue and release stranded or trapped marine and freshwater mammals
A replicated study in 1990–1999 at multiple pelagic sites in the North Atlantic Ocean, Cape Cod Bay, USA (Wiley et al. 2001) found that all stranded and rescued Atlantic white-sided dolphins Lagenorhynchus acutus and most short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis and long-finned pilot whales Globicephala melas were successfully released and did not re-strand. All 16 white-sided dolphins, six of eight (75%) common dolphins, and 38 of 53 (72%) pilot whales were successfully released and were not found re-stranded. One common dolphin and three pilot whales died during transport to release sites. One common dolphin and 12 pilot whales re-stranded and died after release. The 77 dolphins and whales were rescued after mass stranding events in 1990–1999. They were either released at stranding sites or transported to sites up to 40 km away. Most were released within 3–10 h of stranding. All animals were individually marked with tags prior to release. Re-stranded animals were reported by members of the public and national stranding records were searched.
(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
