Sabine Springer of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Society and Galway County Council Vetinary Officer Maeve Murray pictured on Claddagh beach after a dolphin had beached itself there on Wednesday morning. Anyone who notices a beached or distressed animal should contact the Whale and Dolphin Group on 086 8545450.

A male striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), live-stranded at Claddagh beach, near Galway city last Wednesday, 5 December. Galway Atlantaquaria received a call from a member of the public early on Wednesday morning and an aquarist from the centre, having communicated with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group went to Claddagh Beach where there was a small crowd gathered.

Although it was in apparent good body condition, there was some bleeding evident from the dorsal fin and tail stock, which may have resulted from its live-stranding, but these injuries were likely to be superficial. As per standard protocol and best practice a request for veterinary assistance was put out and before long there were two Galway County County vets in attendance. However, the stranded mammal died before a full assessment could be made.

According to Padraig Whooley from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, this is the seventh striped dolphin stranding IWDG have documented in 2007, comprising nine individuals. Five of these stranding events were on the West Coast.

The carcass was removed to Athlone on behalf of Galway County Council, who conducted a post-mortem examination on it. Galway Atlantaquaria made a request to prepare the skeleton for display, which would have been an addition to our fin whale skeleton but unfortunately the call came too late and it was not possible to do so.

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