VIDEO: 7 stranded dolphins rescued by experts, trained volunteers

CRANSTON, R.I. (TND) — Seven stranded Atlantic white-sided dolphins are now safe, thanks to a team of experts.

The dolphins were stranded in a shallow river in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with rescuers coming to their aid.

Videos shared by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which is a global non-profit organization, show staff members and volunteers tending to the dolphins.

The first course of action when we arrived was to coordinate how best to access the dolphins and get our equipment out to their challenging location,” Misty Niemeyer, an animal rescue officer for IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue & Research team, said in a news release issued Wednesday.

“The dolphins appeared alert and in good health, but the day was sure to be sunny and warm and we needed to move quickly,” she added.

Niemeyer said the tide was beginning to come back in. So, rescuers worked as fast as they could to save the animals.

Our team faced the increased difficulty of rising waters, but we know from experience that it’s not an option to leave the dolphins in this area, because they often get caught in a repetitive cycle of tides and re-strand,” she said.

Using cooling blankets, they helped the dolphins maintain a healthy body temperature.

Then, they transported the dolphins to a deeper water release site in a mobile dolphin rescue clinic.

This one-of-a-kind vehicle was custom designed to meet the needs of what is considered a global stranding hotspot on Cape Cod,” according to the release. “The vehicle – through the generosity of donors – enables IFAW experts and veterinarians to treat as many as nine dolphins at a time for dehydration and shock caused by stranding.”

With help from the community, as well as AmeriCorps Cape Cod, Niemeyer said the rescue was a success.

She said while the largest dolphin appeared “a bit stressed,” the team fitted the animal with a temporary satellite tag to monitor it.

We released the dolphins in three rounds, and eventually all swam off strong into deeper water,” said Niemeyer. “We are optimistic about their journey ahead."

She also praised everyone who took part in the rescue, as more than 40 staff members, along with interns and trained volunteers, were on-site, with the National Park Service assisting by managing crowds and logistics.

Going forward, the non-profit will monitor the progress of the dolphins through the dolphin’s satellite tag.

Learn more at IFAW.org.