Rescued dolphins safe near Maine

WELLFLEET, Mass. (WWLP) - Dolphins that survived recent mass strandings on Cape Cod shores are now swimming about 18 miles off the coast of Maine, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Recently released data shows some of these dolphins have traveled over 190 miles already, but the rescuers say they have to wait a couple more weeks before they can consider this release effort a success.

In a news release, Brian Sharp, Stranding Coordinator for the IFAW, said, “We can’t afford to satellite tag all of the dolphins that are released, but by looking at the data from tagged animals, we can hopefully get a picture of where the larger group may be headed.”

This year, an unusually high number of dolphins washed up on Cape Cod shores. So far in January, 85 dolphins were stranded, and the IFAW staff and volunteers rescued and released 24 dolphins.

Earlier this week, IFAW Spokesperson A.J. Cady told 22News, ““The average number of washed up dolphins we see in a year is about 120, but we are now reaching that number within just a week or so.”

In fact, right now, there are about 200 dolphins swimming inside Cape Cod Bay, but Cady said, the bay is the mammals’ natural habitat, and all the dolphins are safe in the middle of the bay.