Rescue teams swing into action to refloat dolphins

ANGUS: Dog walker spotted mammals stuck on sandbank near Barry Buddon

A baby dolphin and its mother have been saved after being found stranded on the sands of an Angus military base.

Animal rescuers were called to the Barry Buddon Training Area after the mammals were found some distance apart at the site at about 8am yesterday.

They were spotted by a dog walker who alerted the authorities.

A long “refloating” operation followed resulting in the dolphins being successfully helped back to the water.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) was on the scene and is said to have been assisted by the military.

BDMLR national co-ordinator Julia Cable said: “An adult female dolphin was reported live stranded at about 8am.

“It was right up at the high-up end of the beach.

“We tried to refloat the adult dolphin once. That wasn’t successful. We had a team of trained marine mammal medics. They stabilised its breathing and got its stress levels down.

“Shortly afterwards a dolphin calf was found stranded, which was likely the calf of the female dolphin.

“We refloated it close to where the female was eventually successfully refloated.

“We had people monitoring the beach to make sure they didn’t come back. Hopefully the calf and its mother will find each other.

“We can only hope for the best.” Ms Cable said the dolphins were uninjured and that the exact cause for them becoming stranded has not been established.

She added: “Usually when dolphins become stranded it’s down to an illness or injury, otherwise it could be a case of them swimming too far out on high tide.”

The military are thought to have used a four-wheel drive vehicle to help bring the dolphins closer to the shore.

The UK Coastguard was also at the scene. A spokeswoman said: “A report came in from Police Scotland about a beached dolphin that was still alive between Monifieth and Carnoustie.

Coastguard teams from Carnoustie and Arbroath were dispatched, as well as Broughty Ferry lifeboats.

“The BDMLR assessed the dolphin as fit to go back into the water. A vet attended after a second juvenile dolphin was found. The coastguard handed the rescue operation over to the BDMLR.”

It took around six hours to refloat the dolphins.

Picture: Gareth Jennings. Members of the rescue operation helping the stranded dolphins.