Stranded Dolphins Return Safely to Sea Near Qualicum Beach
The dolphins crossed a sandbar on the incoming tide after officers kept onlookers back to avoid further stressing the animals, officials said.
- On Saturday, 15 Pacific dolphins escaped unharmed from a small tidal pool near Qualicum Beach after being trapped in shallow water for about 12 hours, crossing a sandbar at 6:15 p.m. to return to deeper waters.
- Jared Towers, executive director of Bay Cetology, called the situation unusual 'for this otherwise highly mobile species,' suggesting the pod either chased fish as the tide receded or sought refuge from Bigg killer whales in the Salish Sea.
- After photos circulated on social media over the weekend, the DFO deployed officers on site to ensure onlookers maintained distance 'to avoid further stressing the animals' during the natural escape.
- The Marine Mammal Regulations prohibit any disturbance to marine mammals, including approaching to feed or swim; the DFO warned that federal rules mandate 100 metres distance for dolphins.
- Towers distinguished this entrapment from strandings, which involve fatal grounding on shorelines; these dolphins managed to exit the tidal pool naturally when the incoming tide rose, unlike most stranding cases.
16 Articles
16 Articles
castanet.net
Trapped dolphins make it out of small tidal pool after 12 hours
A pod of white-sided dolphins escaped unharmed from a small tidal pool near Qualicum Beach on Saturday after being trapped in the shallow water for about 12 hours.
Stranded dolphins return safely to sea near Qualicum Beach
A pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins stranded for hours in a tidal pool near Qualicum Beach on Saturday returned safely to deeper waters with the evening tide, as federal officials monitored the scene and kept onlookers at a distance.
15 dolphins trapped temporarily in shallow B.C. tide pool - Grand Forks Gazette
Fifteen Pacific white-sided dolphins temporarily became trapped in a shallow tidal pool near Qualicum Beach on May 16. The DFO responded to the incident, which saw the dolphins become isolated during low tide in water that was approximately three feet to four feet deep. “DFO personnel co-ordinated the response and ensured a large group of onlookers maintained a safe distance to avoid further stressing the animals and allow the dolphins to exit n…
15 dolphins trapped temporarily in shallow B.C. tide pool - Vanderhoof Omineca Express
Fifteen Pacific white-sided dolphins temporarily became trapped in a shallow tidal pool near Qualicum Beach on May 16. The DFO responded to the incident, which saw the dolphins become isolated during low tide in water that was approximately three feet to four feet deep. “DFO personnel co-ordinated the response and ensured a large group of onlookers maintained a safe distance to avoid further stressing the animals and allow the dolphins to exit n…
15 dolphins trapped temporarily in shallow B.C. tide pool - Northern Sentinel
Fifteen Pacific white-sided dolphins temporarily became trapped in a shallow tidal pool near Qualicum Beach on May 16. The DFO responded to the incident, which saw the dolphins become isolated during low tide in water that was approximately three feet to four feet deep. “DFO personnel co-ordinated the response and ensured a large group of onlookers maintained a safe distance to avoid further stressing the animals and allow the dolphins to exit n…
Penticton Western News
15 dolphins trapped temporarily in shallow B.C. tide pool
Fifteen Pacific white-sided dolphins temporarily became trapped in a shallow tidal pool near Qualicum Beach on May 16. The DFO responded to the incident, which saw the dolphins become isolated during low tide in water that was approximately three feet to four feet deep. “DFO personnel co-ordinated the response and ensured a large group of onlookers maintained a safe distance to avoid further stressing the animals and allow the dolphins to exit n…
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