Dolphin put down after 'deteriorating badly' on island shore

Two Risso's dolphins were first spotted near the village of Burray on Monday, May 13.

Dolphin put down after ‘deteriorating badly’ on shore near Burray on Orkney — One animal appeared to medics as 'lethargic and underweight'. British Divers Marine Life Rescue

21st May 2024

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A dolphin has been euthanised after “deteriorating badly” while stranded on a village shore in Orkney.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) had been monitoring two Risso’s dolphins who were first spotted near the village of Burray on Monday, May 13.

One animal appeared to medics as “lethargic and underweight” before the pair went back out to sea but returned to the shore Saturday, May 18 where they were spotted by a member of the public.

Both dolphins were deemed at risk of stranding, with the weaker of the two “deteriorating badly” and being pushed by the other back into deeper water.

On Monday, BDMLR teams found that the healthy animal disappeared overnight leaving the affected dolphin only three metres from shore “hanging low in the water and struggling to maintain itself upright.”

A decision was made to euthanise the dolphin on welfare grounds and was passed to the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS) for full necropsy.

A statement from BDMLR said: “We would like to extend our deepest thanks to the medics in Orkney, the residents who supported medics on site in both St Margaret’s Hope and at Burray and kept them going with supplies of tea, biscuits and some amazing cake.

“It was very much appreciated on a dull and chilly weekend.

“We would also like to thank Flett & Carmichael vets for their continued support and swift response on Monday.”