A comparison of postrelease survival parameters between single and mass stranded delphinids from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S.A

Published source details Sharp S.M., Harry C.T., Hoppe J.M., Moore K.M., Niemeyer M.E., Robinson I., Rose K.S., Sharp W.B., Landry S., Richardson J. & Moore M.J. (2016) A comparison of postrelease survival parameters between single and mass stranded delphinids from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Marine Mammal Science, 32, 161-180.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Rescue and release stranded or trapped marine and freshwater mammals Action Link

Rescue and release stranded or trapped marine and freshwater mammals

A study in 2010–2012 of a pelagic area in the North Atlantic Ocean, near Cape Cod, USA (Sharp et al. 2016) found that more than half of stranded and rescued dolphins Delphinidae spp. released back into the sea survived for at least 3–11 weeks. Eighteen of 34 dolphins were successfully tracked for 21–79 days after release and travelled an average of 1,395 km during that time. Eight dolphins were tracked for 6–14 days before contact was lost with their transmitters. Eight dolphins were tracked for only one day (one of which re-stranded and died). In 2010–2012, a total of 34 dolphins of three species (28 short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis, five Atlantic white-sided dolphins Lagenorhynchus acutus, one long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas) were rescued during 33 stranding events. Dolphins were provided with medical treatment at the stranding site before being satellite-tagged and released, either singly or in groups. Health assessments and blood tests were carried out prior to release. The 34 dolphins were tracked for 1–79 days after release in 2010–2012.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)