Wednesday, February 22, 2012

IFAW to Hold Information Session/Auction Saturday

Here ye, all those with deep pockets and anyone interested in learning more about dolphins on Cape Cod: This coming Saturday, at Wellfleet Preservation Hall, you will be given the opportunity to learn lots of fun stuff about dolphins. Tracy Plaut is organizing. Why are they stranding themselves on the Outer Cape? Do you know what to do if you encounter a stranded dolphin on the beach? If the answer to this question is no, make sure to attend from 1 to 3 for a bit of enlightenment.

Tracy is also putting together a silent auction and bake sale to raise money for IFAW. The non-profit organization really needs monetary assistance this year ...

Did you know the tags volunteers use cost from $2200 to $3000 a piece? Tags are placed on the dorsal fin and transmit information on where the animal has gone after release in Provincetown. Check out some of the voyages on this cool map. IFAW accomplishes blood work and health assessment of dolphins before release. Earlier on, single stranded dolphins were euthanized, Tracy told me, because rescuers believed single animals could not survive on their own. Since then, it has been proved that they do hook up with other groups of animals. IFAW has had confirmation from boats and planes. Of the 71 found live in Wellfleet over the past five weeks, eleven died, four had to be euthanized due to injuries, and 56 were released.

If you have not already watched the fascinating CNN video of the IFAW volunteers in Wellfleet, check it out here.

Why do we all find dolphins so fascinating? Have you ever gotten up close and personal with one? Do you think people should be allowed to "swim with dolphins"?

Comments (10)

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I don't know much about dolphins- but I did enjoy your clip which you shared - I had no idea the tags cost as much as they do.
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It pains me deeply to see these amazing creatures in this distress. After strandings all over the world, we still don't have concrete answers. Thanks to all of the volunteers on the front line. It must be both emotionally exhilarating and painful. Is there some way that those of us Wellfleet and dolphin lovers who live in other parts of the country can donate or support the volunteers? I have wanted to be in the water with dolphins since watching Flipper as a child. But I also believe that dolphins should NOT be held captive so people can fulfill a fantasy or watch them jump in unison. Thanks for the updates on the situation. As the dolphins said on their departure from planet Earth in Douglas Adams books, "So long and thanks for all the fish." It scares me to think that they might be the "canaries in the mine" of the 21st century.
I love dolphins and wish I could be there. They are such intelligent sensitive creatures.
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Thanks for the video - dolphins are amazing creatures. Anyone that spends a fair bit of time on or in the water down here will inevitably come into contact with them. It is not uncommon to be in the surf and hear their clicking and whistling and find oneself surrounded by curious dolphin, or for the boat to be shadowed by a pod, jumping out of the wake. Places like SeaWorld and Mote Marine lab do a lot of unsung, positive work rescuing and rehabilitating the animals all year 'round and count on visitors for support.
That is very interesting about the cost of the tags.
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alisa bowman · 677 weeks ago

The poor things. I really hope science can help to sort out this issue!
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Living Large · 676 weeks ago

Wow, the cost of the tags is so high! I love dolphins. Our youngest daughter loves them and to this day, has images of them all over her house.
1 reply · active 676 weeks ago
I was really surprised by the cost myself, Living Large. Who would have thought?
That is a high cost--I had no idea. I've only had a close encounter with a dolphin once. Loved it.
When I lived in California I used to surf all up and down the San Diego coast and dolphins would routinely pop their head's up and take a look around at us as we bobbed in the water waiting for the next set. Sometimes they'd even surf with us. I can still remember the first time I saw one coming towards me. I was used to surfing in Wellfleet and never had seen a dolphin up close, so you could imagine my fear when I saw a dorsal fin in the water coming towards me.

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