Increase in dolphin strandings — here's what to do if you see a live dolphin stuck on the beach
Rescue mission for a stranded striped dolphin off the Long Strand, Ballybunion. July 2025. Pictures: Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue / Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
You never know what you might come across while strolling along a beach: even a stranded dolphin, something which is happening more often nowadays.
Dolphins have developed a close affinity with humans. The story of how Fungie drew millions of people (not exaggerating!) to Dingle, County Kerry, over four decades has been well charted. And those of us from a certain generation whimsically remember — a popular TV series.
The eponymous series, made in Miami, Florida, in the 1960s, portrayed Flipper as a lovable, intelligent dolphin which could communicate with humans and perform various stunts. All of which helped create a people-friendly image for the species.
West Cork has become well known as a place for observing marine life, with dolphins frequently ending up on the shore in places such as Inchydoney, Baltimore, and Crookhaven, to name a few locations.
There was also some drama on the Long Strand, Ballybunion, County Kerry, on July 15, after a common dolphin was seen on the sand.
People continued throwing buckets of water on the animal until the Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue Service (BSCR) and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) got to work in a rescue operation.
They put the dolphin on a lifting sheet, slipped it back into the water and allowed it to swim off: mission successfully accomplished.
Since 2011, the number of strandings has been growing significantly, especially during winter. An IWDG report last October showed that common dolphin strandings, in 2023, were up by 26.4% compared to 2022.
Reason include more reporting by people through social media, and a tendency by dolphins to move close to shore. Dolphins may also come in too near if they are sick, or chasing prey.
Interestingly, 9% of the stranded dolphins had signs of injury from being caught in fishing gear — cut off tails, tips of dorsal fins cleanly cut, and broken jaws — and the real percentage is believed to be much higher.
The IWDG’s Padraig Whooley says the ongoing rise in strandings must continue to be monitored into the future. Strandings occur most often in Cork, Kerry and Galway, while Donegal and Mayo have had increases in recent years.
Meanwhile, the IWDG asks people who see a live stranded animal to call the IWDG Live Stranding Hotline on 097-28118. They will be asked for a GPS location (Google pin), photos, and videos, and given advice on what to do while IWDG tasks volunteers to assist.
People are advised to never drag an animal by the tail, as this can cause them injury and, in some cases, dislocations, and to keep the area calm and quiet.
