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Mass dolphin stranding in Cornwall, UK
News update: 16 June, 2008 - It has now emerged that the Navy held a large exercise in nearby waters just days before the dolphins beached themselves on the banks of the Percuil river, near Portscatho. Several ships from the British, Dutch and German fleets were involved, along with a Merlin helicopter equipped with powerful mid-frequency sonar of the type associated with previous deaths of marine mammals around the world. The exercises took place 50 miles south of where the strandings took place. |
Update on stranding investigation: 13 June 2008 - Scientists leading the investigation into the mass stranding have released a statement - click here to read more |
News update: 11 June, 2008 - The Royal Navy has confirmed it was conducting a live firing exercise and using sonar, hours before many of the dolphins beached themselves. The exercises involved surface ships and submarines in Falmouth Bay. Marine Connection has contacted the MOD requesting information regarding activities which were happening at the time of the strandings and will continue its campaign to protect other dolphins and whales from the impact of military exercises. |
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On 9 June rescuers rushed to the aid of scores of dolphins at Porth Creek near Portscatho, Cornwall. Classed as the largest mass stranding of dolphins since 1981 when pilot whales were beached on the east coast, rescuers are still doing all they can to ensure no more animals strand. |
Local Coastguards were first alerted to the problem after a visitor at a nearby guest house noticed a flailing dolphin that appeared to have beached itself in Porth Creek. When they arrived to launch the rescue operation, many more dolphins had become stranded.
It is not known what has caused this latest stranding but it is very unusual for common dolphins, which are a pelagic species, to be so close inshore as they prefer deeper water and are rarely found in coastal areas. Many animals have died but quite a few have been saved and refloated back out to the sea which is a very positive sign.
Initial post-mortem examinations of some of the dead dolphins found have so far revealed no clues as to the cause of the mass stranding. The animals appear to have been well-fed and there were no obvious signs of disease or poisoning. Spread over a large area of coastline, there are various reasons to why the animals got themselves into difficulty – one of which could be military sonar. However it could take months before the reason is confirmed.
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Marine Connection’s Lissa Goodwin who was called to assist with the strandings comments; "I cannot begin to describe what it is like to arrive at a scene which is already littered with dead dolphins, both, young and old - all appearing at an initial glance to have been in good health - nothing prepares you. Whilst all |
involved in the rescue operation consol ourselves with the fact that many were successfully rescued and led out to open water, nothing can remove the constant questioning. Why did these dolphins mass strand? What caused a group of pelagic dolphins to come so far in shore, into dangerously shallow waters? Perhaps we will never know, however, I for one am hoping that we are able to establish a reason, something to explain a day that I hope never to repeat." |
The stranding is one of the worst ever seen in the UK.
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