THE IRISH Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is appealing for any reports of stranded dolphins in the Kerry area, following an unusual sequence of marine mammal beachings over recent days.
Several bottlenose dolphins have died in Tralee Bay, and a dead animal was also found floating off Fenit, while there was another stranding off Camp on the Dingle Peninsula.
Mick O’Connell, the group’s strandings co-ordinator, said the occurrence in several different but related locations over a number of days was “unusual” and required further investigation.
One postmortem was conducted by a Kerry County Council vet and IWDG personnel, but this was unable to establish the cause of death.
However, a second dolphin was buried by the local authority early this week before IWDG representatives had time to conduct a post mortem.
Mr O’Connell said the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group had received reports last Friday of about 12 dolphins in shallow water in Tralee Bay, halfway between Fenit and Blennerville, Co Kerry.
“Further enquiries suggested that they were bottlenose dolphins and so we were not overly concerned as this species is familiar with shallow water and does not commonly “live-strand”, he said.
However, the IWDG was told that one dolphin had beached and was found dead at the location, and the mammal was confirmed as a bottlenose.
Further mortalities appeared to involve bottlenose dolphins, he said.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is anxious to be informed of any further stranded animals which occur within the area, so that it can locate them.
It may be able to make identification comparisons with its records, as part of its research into the cause of death.
Any strandings on the Kerry coast, particularly the Tralee Bay, Brandon Bay and Banna beach areas, should be communicated to the IWDG, which has a stranding log on its website, www.iwdg.ie.
