12th June 2009

Report on mass stranding event investigation released

A report has been released today on the comprehensive investigation into the mass stranding of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) that took place in the Fal Estuary in Cornwall on 9th June 2008. The investigation was co-ordinated by the collaborative UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) which is currently managed by the Institute of Zoology, ZSL. The report into the Defra funded investigation can be found here.

CSIP project manager Rob Deaville said: ‘This has been one of the most intensively studied mass stranding events that has ever taken place. As a result of the investigation, we’ve been able to rule out a wide number of potential causal factors, but cannot rule out the naval exercises either indirectly or directly impacting on the large group of dolphins seen unusually close to shore in the days immediately preceding the mass stranding.’

Other organisations that contributed to the report included British Divers Marine Life Rescue, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Southwest Fisheries Science Centre, Universidad de las Gran Palmas Gran Canaria, Veterinary Laboratory Agency (Truro) and Wildlife Veterinary Investigation Centre in Cornwall.

Mass stranding of common dolphins in Cornwall June 2008 © PA Photos

Common dolphin mass stranding investigation

Scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) are leading the investigation into the mass stranding of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) that occurred around the south Cornwall coastline earlier this week.

Twenty six common dolphins were found dead or died during the course of the mass stranding event. Eleven dolphins have already undergone initial post-mortem examination by ZSL scientists and colleagues at the site of the stranding and a further six dolphins have been transported to ZSL’s pathology laboratories for examination, along with samples from the initial investigations. An additional nine individuals have also been examined at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (Polwhele).

Rob Deaville, Project Manager for the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, stated, “At present no conclusions can be made on the cause of the stranding. We are currently undertaking detailed post-mortem examinations on all of the stranded dolphins and will also be conducting a number of further tests. Until the investigation is complete, it is not possible to comment with any confidence on any potential reason/s for the strandings that took place on Monday. ZSL will ensure that complete and comprehensive examinations are undertaken on all of the animals and are grateful to the UK Government who has funded this investigation.”

Once all the post-mortem investigations have been concluded and the results analysed, further details will be released.