Rescue center boosts survival for stranded dolphins on Cape Cod

First-of-its kind rehabilitation facility fills a critical unmet need for dolphins and porpoises. 

Problem 

Cape Cod sees more instances of live mass strandings of dolphins than anywhere else in the world. IFAW’s marine rescue experts, renowned for their experience, research, and innovation over the past 25 years, understand that some animals require specialized diagnostics, treatment, and often additional recovery time that can only be provided at a dedicated facility. 

Solution 

IFAW’s new Dolphin Rescue Center on Cape Cod is a first-of-its-kind rehabilitation facility for dolphins and porpoises, designed to fill a critical unmet need. 

This innovative pilot project seeks to improve post-release survival for stranded small cetaceans (dolphins and porpoises) suffering from acute conditions by providing short-term intensive care.  

Dolphins and porpoises are transported to the facility, supported and monitored continuously, and reassessed and released when their stranding-related conditions have sufficiently improved. 

The Dolphin Rescue Center will be ready to provide care within 15 minutes of a stranding event. Stranded animals will be accommodated for up to four days in the facility. We will initially handle one patient at a time, eventually expanding to more, with a current plan to take in up to 12 patients per year.