On Sunday morning January 4, just before 9am, volunteers from Irish Whale and Dolphin Group received an alert message about approximately eight dolphins circling on a dropping tide in Ballyvaughan.
The callout was just over a couple of weeks after crews attended the same location with 23 dolphins reported stranded, so volunteers said they were familiar with the terrain and “felt well prepared to respond”.
Volunteer Trea Heapes was amongst the rescue crew who worked alongside one another to save the troubled mammals and bring them to safety.
Trea shared details of the callout, saying: “When we arrived at approximately 11.15am, just 15 minutes before low tide, IWDG stranding network volunteer Melissa was already on site. She had been monitoring the situation, identifying the locations of the dolphins and assessing their condition from a safe distance. Thankfully, all dolphins were upright and appeared calm. With sufficient water for refloating not expected until after 2pm, the priority was to keep the animals comfortable while ensuring volunteer safety.
Two dolphins were the last to be saved PIC CREDIT: Trea Heapes/IWDG
“Local kayakers were on standby to assist with herding the dolphins out once they refloated. The dolphins were spread across three areas: to the east of the channel were two adults and two calves. One calf was separated and out of sight from the others. Two volunteers gently lifted the calf using a makeshift stretcher and re-positioned it head-to-head with its group. This eastern basin was expected to fill first as the tide returned.
“Further west, beside the deepest channel, were another two dolphins — a mother and calf. From previous experience we knew this area would fill shortly after the eastern basin. Both animals were upright, calm, and breathing normally.
“The final group, two adults, were positioned slightly south toward the pier and would be the last to refloat.
“Melissa and Penny monitored the western groups, keeping gulls away and cooling the animals where necessary, while Brendan and Kevin did the same with the eastern group.
“At around 1.45pm, as the water began to reach the dolphins, they became more alert. I entered the water to assist with the eastern group of four.”
According to Trea, the tide came in quickly and the dolphins began to move, occasionally becoming trapped between rocks or tangled in seaweed.
She said: “It was a coordinated effort to keep them pointed out toward the channel, keeping calves alongside adults, and gently freeing pectoral fins when needed.
“As water levels continued to rise, the dolphins began to float. One calf repeatedly attempted to swim backward, and volunteers worked carefully to keep the group oriented in the correct direction whenever they tried to turn back toward shore.
“Once conditions allowed, the kayakers — Carles, Helen, and Oisín — were able to assist, floating in very shallow water and taking over herding as depths increased. Carlos helped keep the group of four moving into deeper water, while Oisín supported Brendan and Kevin in guiding the mother-and-calf pair along the channel and out through the deeper basin.
“A particularly poignant moment for Kevin came when the calf paused to suckle as it left the channel, the mother rolling slightly onto her side to allow her hungry calf to feed before continuing on to sea.”
The rescue team were called to Ballyvaughan PIC CREDIT: Trea Heapes/IWDG
At this point, there were two more adult dolphins that needed rescued. It was touch and go for the volunteers as one of the dolphins appeared ‘distressed’ and was struggling to breathe.
Trea went on: “I was unsure she would survive. Gemma advised giving the animal time, suspecting shock, while local vet Melanie remained on standby at the pier.”
Thankfully, the dolphin soon recovered and swam off with the group. By around 3pm all volunteers were safely out of the water and were welcomed ashore by the shore crew with food and drinks.
Trea added: “There was a real buzz among everyone involved — a hard day, but with a happy ending.”