Dolphin found dead in River Orwell
A common dolphin has been found dead in the River Orwell, a day after firefighters and marine rescuers cut it free from netting wrapped around its beak and fins.
Why it matters: British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said it was unusual to be called out to a live entangled dolphin, and that the incident "demonstrates once again the dangers of marine litter to wildlife in the environment".
The details: BDMLR was called on the afternoon of Wednesday, 14 October, to reports of a dolphin in the River Orwell that had been seen swimming in circles and travelling upriver.
BDMLR's Marine Mammal Medics identified it as a common dolphin and spotted green net wrapped tightly around its beak and pectoral fins.
Despite the entanglement, the dolphin was able to breathe and swim strongly, moving up and down the river.
A Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service crew from Ipswich approached the animal, working under BDMLR's guidance, and cut it free, noting only minor wounds linked to the entanglement.
The dolphin was released and monitored by BDMLR volunteers.
The dolphin continued to circle the river and did not take the opportunity to leave with the tide. The low tide meant that boat access was impossible and the team on site couldn't get to the dolphin.
On the morning of Thursday, 15 October, the BDMLR team found the dolphin dead in the same area.
HM Coastguard, the Environment Agency, police, the Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk 4×4 Response teams, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, BDMLR's Marine Mammal Medics and local contacts worked together to reach the location and pull the dolphin from the river.
- Medics found it to be a male measuring 7ft 3in (2.2m).
- The body has been placed into storage for the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP).
- BDMLR said a post-mortem examination would "hopefully provide valuable scientific information about the animal's condition and cause of death".
What they're saying: BDMLR thanked all the agencies, volunteers and local community members involved in both the rescue and the recovery.
"The cooperation and support between everyone involved has been invaluable, despite the sad outcome and needless to say all are devastated by this turn of events," the charity said.
The bottom line: Ipswich firefighters and marine rescuers freed the dolphin from the net, but it never made it back to sea, a loss BDMLR said showed the danger marine litter poses to wildlife.
Don't forget: If you enjoy our content, please add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google so you can easily find more of the content you value.
This article cost us ~£14 to produce
It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them.
Below the line