LIMERICK holidaymakers played a major role in rescuing two dolphins stranded on a beach in West Clare this week.
Residents of the Green Acres caravan park in Doonaha on the Loop Head Peninsula were awoken this Tuesday morning to the sight of two Common Dolphins washed up on its rocky beach.
Owner of the site Niall McGrath was alerted by holidaymakers around 7.30am and a rescue operation got underway to get the stressed mother and her calf back into the water.
“They looked as good as dead, especially the young one,” Niall told the Limerick Post.
“It was not nice to see. The calf had blood around its mouth and there were very little signs of life. I didn’t think they were going to make it.
“Some of the Limerick lads on the site rallied together and got buckets of water and tarps to keep the dolphins wet until experts from the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation (SDWF) arrived at the scene,” he explained.
Based in Kilrush, the SDWF provide educational awareness and conservation of the Shannon dolphins and other wildlife in the region.
Isabel Baker and Meadbh Quinn from the group were dispatched to Doonaha, 17 kilometres away, to assess the condition of the dolphins.
They assessed the dolphins’ respiratory rate and made sure their stress levels were down before attempting to re-float the stranded mammals.
With the Shannon Estuary best known as being home to over 120 Bottlenose Dolphins, experts say they are puzzled as to why these Common Dolphins ended up in Doonaha.
“We’re not sure what brought them into the estuary. It is unusual to find them here. They are usually found around the coast of Ireland and they were also very high up on this rocky beach. We don’t know why they stranded in this case; often it can be down to poor health or a case of mistaken navigation,” Ms Baker of SWDF said.
Gina Morrissey from Fr Russell Road in Limerick was on the beach as the scene unfolded.
“Everyone chipped in to save them. The rescue team were an hour and half in the water trying to sort out the dolphins breathing after they managed to re-float them. The baby came towards the shore twice after that and then all of a sudden swam out to her mother who was calling her. It was really beautiful to see.”
by Alan Jacques
