At least 20 dolphins have been found dead on the beaches in Cape Cod. Since Thursday, about 40 to 50 common Atlantic white-sided dolphins have been found stranded close to the shores due to the January-April “high season.” International Fund for Animal Welfare experts remain unsure of why a high number of dolphins are showing up now.
The IFAW experts have a few theories as to why this is occurring, namely, the dolphins get caught in currents when they come too close to shore to feed. A second is that because dolphins are social animals, if one is sick or injured, the others will remain at its side and the landscape of Cape Cod is possibly creating areas where the dolphins get jammed. The IFAW have saved 19 dolphins thus far. Kerry Branon, an IFAW spokeswoman said, “It may not sound like a high success rate, but when you consider that 27 were alive when they washed up, I think we’re doing pretty well.”
