This video from Ireland is called Biodiversity in our Seas.
From Wildlife Extra:
First confirmed successful refloat of stranded dolphin
August 2012. A bottlenose dolphin that live-stranded in North Kerry and was refloated, was recently photographed from dolphin tour boats in the Shannon Estuary. This is one of just a few occasions when there is proof that refloating a dolphin had some long-term sucess.
Stranded in Co Kerry
A bottlenose dolphin live-stranded at Béal, Co. Kerry, on the shores of the Shannon Estuary, on 1 June 2012. The 3.5m female bottlenose dolphin was lying on the sand about 10m from the waterline, but appeared to be in perfect condition and had no signs of injury. She didn’t seem in a very distressed state despite her predicament and her skin was still moist, but she was starting to overheat.
Rather than wait for the whale pontoons to arrive from Kilrush in Co. Clare on the other side of the estuary, those present at the stranding decided to try using a tractor equipped with a large transport box on the back to lift her out of the sand and put her slowly into the water. Once in the water, they stabilised the dolphin for a few minutes and allowed her to become acclimatised, before she started to swim away from the shore. She quickly increased her swimming speed and was observed swimming for about 10 minutes before she was out of view.
Photographed 4 weeks later
On 27 June 2012, the same bottlenose dolphin was photographed from Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt’s tour boat during a dolphin-watching trip. She was with a group of adults with calves and looked to be in good health. Researchers from the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation, who monitor the Shannon dolphins, were able to match a photograph taken of the dolphin’s dorsal fin to a photograph taken during the stranding event. She has since been photographed twice from the Kilrush based Dolphin Discovery tour boat on 5 June and 6 June 2012. On all occasions, she was seen in groups of individuals which included some of the same adults with calves. Her presence in these groups and her behaviour within them suggests that she is healthy and well.
Shannon Estuary dolphins
The Shannon Estuary bottlenose dolphin population numbers around 120-140 individuals and is thought to be genetically discrete. The loss of one dolphin, especially an adult female, could have a significant impact on this population, thus highlighting the importance of the prompt action on the shore at Béal.
September 2012. Marine law enforcement staff (NOAA) and US marine mammal experts received a report a bottlenose dolphin that had been found dead on Elmer’s Island in Louisiana. A necropsy revealed the dolphin died of a gunshot wound; the dolphin had been shot on the right side just behind the blowhole, probably with a small calibre firearm. The bullet was discovered lodged in the dolphin’s lung: here.
Bottlenose dolphins call out the specific names of loved ones when they become separated, a study finds: here.
New technology can identify individual dolphins: here.
September 2012. Three months after their release, Tom and Misha, two captive dolphins rescued from certain death in a filthy swimming pool in Hisaronu, are successfully adapting to life back in the wild. The Back To The Blue team made up of experts from the USA, Turkey and the UK, undertook twenty months of intensive rehabilitation, organised and funded by international wildlife charity, the Born Free Foundation, ultimately transforming Tom and Misha from lethargic dependent ‘captives’ who were close to death, into effective independent wild animals: here.
Bottlenose dolphins using sponges to protect their noses while foraging is a technique that the animals discovered in the 19th century, a study has found: here.
Related articles
- €1 million project to protect bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead turtle (timesofmalta.com)
- Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge investigating dolphin death (nwfdailynews.com)
Rescue attempts fail to save stranded whale
Tuesday 14 August 2012
A sixty-five-foot whale died on a Cornwall beach after rescuers were unable to refloat her.
The fin whale was discovered by walkers at Carlyon Bay near St Austell around 5pm on Monday evening.
She had sustained injuries to her head, gashes to her body and was injured around one eye.
Vets from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said that there was no hope of helping the injured animal get back out to sea, especially given that she was “incredibly undernourished.”
A BDMLR spokesperson explained that the difficult decision had been made to put down the animal for humane reasons but the whale died naturally and this was not necessary.
Around 300 people gathered at the scene as a team of people tried to get the whale back into the sea.
Inspector Dave Meredith, of Devon and Cornwall Police, tweeted: “The stranded whale has now passed away. Due to its injuries and poor condition there was no hope of rescue.
“A very sad incident for us all.”
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/122672
Survey shows marine life thriving in Farne Deeps
Published on Wednesday 15 August 2012 12:34
THE sighting of more than 30 white beaked dolphins off the Northumberland coast helps to confirm the importance of the area to marine mammals, according to Northumberland Wildlife Trust.
During a dedicated three hour transect survey of the Farne Deeps, experts were lucky enough to record, film and photograph 32 white beaked dolphins, four harbour porpoise, two minke whales and two grey seals. Seabirds including gannets, razorbills and puffins foraging offshore for food were also recorded.
Experts and surveyors from MARINELife, the North East Cetacean Project and Northumberland Wildlife Trust embarked on a 12 hour voyage in a vessel supplied by the Northumberland Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority.
The Farne Deeps is a deep glacial tunnel located 20 miles offshore from the Northumberland Coast; its deep channels result in areas of nutrient upwelling and changes in tidal currents which bring with them rich supplies of food. As a result it attracts high numbers of travelling marine mammals as well as seabirds.
Steve Lowe, head of conservation at Northumberland Wildlife Trust said: “I am delighted the white beaked dolphins chose to put in an appearance at just the right time.
“This proposed Marine Conservation Zone, is such a productive area and is home to some incredible wildlife. This was a fantastic survey, combining skills and resources from a range of organisations and its results show that the North Sea has wildlife in need of protection.
“The deep glacial tunnels provide foraging and breeding grounds for white beaked dolphin, a species which has been under-recorded in the past; with new data we can identify ways to best protect this species for future generations.”
Martin Kitching, North East Cetacean Project, said: “The sea may all look the same on the surface but what we can’t see obviously is that the different heights of the seabed play a considerable role in what’s found there. Two weeks ago in this area we had 100 white beaked dolphins.”
http://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/news/local-headlines/survey-shows-marine-life-thriving-in-farne-deeps-1-2468448#.UC5U47L9YR4.twitter
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