On 19 August 2025, a report was received on the BDMLR hotline of two dolphins stranded alive in a creek six kilometres from the open sea at Penpoll, Cornwall.
Marine Mammal Medics including a veterinarian were dispatched to the scene with rescue equipment. The animals were stranded in a muddy area with the tide incoming, but one was already sadly deceased. Further upstream, the second dolphin was alive but largely motionless, semi-stranded in the mud.
Once enough Medics had arrived, and with the kind support of local residents, a plan was made to attempt to reach the live animal for a full health assessment in a safe spot by way of kayak and paddleboard. The team guided the animal into a tarpaulin to bring across to the riverbank. From here it was lifted onto the embankment while a veterinary assessment was undertaken and first aid implemented.
The animal, a male common dolphin was 2.2m long and appeared to be in moderate body condition. Its breathing rate was within normal parameters and there were no signs of injury or infection that would warrant euthanasia. It seemed the pair had become lost and disoriented in the intertidal muddy river system and struggled to find the way out — a frequent occurrence in the Fal and Helford area, elsewhere in Cornwall.
A decision was made to attempt a refloat and a satellite tag was attached to the dolphin’s dorsal fin to aid welfare monitoring post-release. The dolphin was carefully loaded on to a boat, supported on a paddleboard and airbed for stability and comfort, and was transported downstream past Fowey – whose annual regatta provided an unusual backdrop for the strange procession heading downstream, drawing plenty of mystified and bemused onlookers. The dolphin was supported by three Medics continuing first aid throughout the journey and monitoring its behaviour and breathing.
In calm waters offshore, the dolphin was released and swam away immediately, shortly before a pod of Risso’s dolphins passed through the area. Meanwhile, the deceased animal was recovered with help from Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network for post-mortem by the Cornwall Marine Pathology Team.
We would like to thank all of the BDMLR team involved in this incident both on scene and on the hotline, as well as local residents Robin, Debbie, Claire and Julie for their great support throughout the incident as well.
IMPORTANT UPDATE 28 August 2025:
A Wildlife Computers SPLASH satellite tag was fitted to monitor the dolphin’s welfare post-release. We’re thrilled to share that after a week of regular data, the tag confirms the dolphin is still swimming and thriving – exactly the kind of evidence we hoped to receive that would show this refloat was a real success!
