New rescue center improves chances of survival for stranded dolphins on Cape Cod

(Yarmouth Port, MA – August 24, 2023) -- A first-of-its-kind rehabilitation facility for dolphins and porpoises fills a critical unmet need as it opens on Cape Cod, U.S, this August 2023.

Wildlife rescue and conservation organization IFAW has become internationally recognized for its dolphin rescue and research expertise for 25 years. IFAW’s research and innovation has led to groundbreaking response techniques and increased survival rates for marine mammals, both locally and in similar mass stranding hotspots around the world.

“With the new facility, we aim to improve the survivability of stranded dolphins and porpoises,” said Brian Sharp, Director of IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue & Research team.

“Cape Cod sees more instances of live mass strandings of dolphins than anywhere else in the world. Currently there are no such facilities for dolphins north of Florida, leaving IFAW staff to treat stranded animals solely in the field.”

"However, some dolphins cannot receive the care they need to survive under the current paradigm," Sharp adds. "To have a chance at survival, these animals require additional diagnostics, treatments and sometimes simply additional recovery time that can only be provided at a dedicated facility."

IFAW has outfitted a former retail space with a room containing two large pools and accompanying filtration systems to accommodate stranded dolphins. The pools are each between 15-16 feet in diameter and hold up to 4,500 gallons of water. The facility will also include office space and a veterinary laboratory.

Stranded animals will be accommodated for no more than four days in the facility, and IFAW initially expects to accommodate about 12 patients a year. The facility will be staffed 24 hours a day when treating patients.

While the facility will not be open to the public, Sharp said IFAW has created a public outreach center in the front room of the facility with educational materials and a closed-circuit television that will allow people to view activity in the facility.

The project is financed in part by a contribution from the Dutch Postcode Lottery, which includes rent for the facility, construction of the rehabilitation pools and water filtration system, food and medicine for the animals, and additional staff salary and equipment (gloves, booties, dry suits).

IFAW has been federally permitted under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to respond to stranded marine animals on the Cape for 25 years. In the last five years, IFAW staff have responded to more than 400 live stranded dolphins, whales and porpoises.

Cape Cod’s first Dolphin Rescue Center opens this August and will be ready to provide rapid response and intensive care for stranded dolphins and porpoises in this global stranding hotspot.

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Notes to editor:

• Photos copyright IFAW can be downloaded HERE
• Size of the space: The entire space is 390 sq m (4200 sq ft). The rehabilitation area is 167 sq m (1800 sq ft) and will contain two 4.3m (15 ft) diameter treatment pools. A 31.1 sq m (335 sq ft) veterinary laboratory will be used for diagnostics and water quality testing. The entrance includes a 28 sq m (300 sq ft) education and outreach center that will tell the story of strandings on Cape Cod, what we learn from strandings and will have a monitor that has a live feed to the rehab pools when patients are in-house. The remaining area will be used for patient food prep, offices and equipment storage.    
• Capacity: The Center will initially treat one patient at a time with plans to eventually expand to more. Our initial anticipated reach is to help 12 patients a year. Each cetacean admitted will require around-the-clock care.
• Staff: The center will have a dedicated staff of four and be supplemented by additional IFAW marine rescue staff, interns, and volunteer responders.
• Additional purpose: The team will be maintaining the facilities’ readiness to receive patients at any time, as well as furthering our investigations into the health and welfare of stranded dolphins. The center will also provide training to regional, national and international responders as part of IFAW’s Academy of Rescue & Conservation.
• 25-year anniversary: This November 2023, IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue & Research team is celebrating 25 years since its first stranding response. The group was named the Cape Cod Stranding Network at the time, and many of the original staff and volunteers are still with IFAW.

Media contacts:

Stacey Hedman
+1 508 737 2558
shedman@ifaw.org