The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Rescue effort to save dolphins from muddy flats has happy ending
Mammals were stranded on deep mud, with one given help and other refloated by tide
Marine divers have rescued two dolphins stranded on mud flats in the Firth of Forth close to Culross.
The Fife Stirling team of British Divers Marine Life Rescue was alerted at 10.15am last Friday to reports of a pair of mammals in the Forth stranded on deep mud.
A rescue team was dispatched, with divers gaining access to the site a short time later.
There they found a pair of common dolphins about 200m apart stranded on flats, despite a rising tide.
Divers administered first aid to one of the dolphins. Wearing safety gear, the divers reached the first animal, which was on its side and in distress, where they administered help.
The mammal was found to have no serious injuries and was eventually helped back to deep water.
However, despite a number of attempts, divers failed to reach the second mammal because of the mud.
Rescuers continued to monitor the animal from a distance until it managed to refloat on the incoming tide.
The team was withdrawn from the site but remained in the area to search and monitor the area in case the animals returned further along the coast.
A spokesman for British Divers Marine Life Rescue said: “One of the pair was found again in shallow water, likely pushed in by the strong tide.
“The team entered the water again to assess and stabilise it.
“It was showing good signs of health but had become disoriented in the tidal habitat to which this species does not normally venture.
“With the tide still rising quickly, the animal refloated before a veterinarian was able to arrive to further assess it.
“This time the animal was not seen again and thus far, this appears to have been a successful refloatation of both animals.”
The spokesman added that it was important for the public to remain vigilant.
Anyone spotting a stranded mammal is urged to call the hotline on 01825 765546 immediately to allow for divers to provide expert advice and assistance as soon as possible.