WDC team attends dolphin stranding in Scotland

A team from WDC’s Scottish Dolphin Centre attended the stranding of a young striped dolphin at Lossiemouth in the Moray Firth yesterday.

At around 10.30am the Centre received a call from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) that the dolphin had been seen on the beach. WDC staff quickly joined the BDMLR team on the scene and helped to perform first aid and keep the dolphin calm.

The team then attempted to refloat the dolphin but after a short period of time it became clear that he was struggling to swim and soon restranded. In light of its worsening condition, the decision was made by vets to euthanise the dolphin. The body was removed and will be examined in an attempt to discover the cause of the stranding.

Striped dolphins are not a common species in Scotland, occasional sightings are made during the summer. They are usually found in warmer temperate and tropical waters.