Latest news with #UKCetaceanStrandingsInvestigationProgramme
Rhyl Journal
22-04-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Spotter witnesses bottlenose dolphin attack
Spotting enthusiast Holly Williams from Wrexham was one of 12 passengers who witnessed a common dolphin juvenile being killed by four bottlenose dolphins while out on an organised trip from New Quay. The incident which took place last week (April 17) left the group in shock, with experts describing it as a rare encounter. Matthew Westfield from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) explained that climate change encourages more of the species to be out, while a bottlenose may hunt them as a form of "play." Holly, 38, said: "I'm a huge dolphin spotting enthusiastic for chirk Wrexham, and visit new quay cardigan bay with my partner Adam jones (36) and our children. "Between 6-7 times a year, we enjoy all the wildlife there but particularly the bottlenose dolphins who are residents at new quay cardigan bay. We use the company Dolphin Spotting Boat trip, which we see as our extended family. An image capturing the attack (Image: Skye Williams) "While this time taking my extended family on a private boat trip on what began as a normal boat trip along the coast, we spotted one of new quays favourite bottlenose dolphins "Ghost" she was traveling with another dolphin at a good speed and in the distance we could see another 4 dolphins which looked like they were playing breeching out of the water but on closer inspection we seen them fling something out of the water. "We first thought they had a salmon, then thought this is a porpoise (known as porcicide). The attack was all over in about 5 mins, and the dolphins immediately just swam away. My son saw something in the water, unfortunately a dead infant common dolphin. (Image: Holly Williams) "This is extremely rare to witness, although we are aware this does happen, and porcicide has been witnessed before, but it's never seen witnessed with a common dolphin. "Although this was upsetting to witness, there was nothing we or the crew on board could have done to save the calf. Nature can be so cruel sometimes, but as a family, we are aware that these beautiful animals aren't always as friendly as they seem. "We had the most amazing crew on board who contacted their boss, the Seawatch Foundation, and the CSIP, where the decision was made to retrieve the body so it can be studied. "A huge credit must go to Sarah (wildlife guide) and the skipper on board who were both compassionate and respect to us as passengers and to the calf they recovered and nothing was done without our consent. "This will be something that will stay with me forever and something we will probably never witness again in our lifetime. "Whilst on realisation of what was happening, it can be deemed cruel, it was amazing to see such a rare spectacle, as I'm sure many sea life enthusiasts who have spent years watching these fantastic animals have never seen something like this."
North Wales Chronicle
22-04-2025
- Science
- North Wales Chronicle
Dolphin measuring more than three metres found dead on Anglesey
Gandalf, an old adult male bottlenose dolphin measuring 3.29 metres in length, had washed up at Porth Tyn Tywyn, a beach near Rhosenigr, last week. It was estimated that he had only been dead for 24 to 48 hours when he was found. Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM), the Welsh arm of the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, investigated Gandalf, and found he weighed 510kg – 'one of the heaviest' it had come across. Gandalf's worn teeth (Image: M Sidall) READ MORE: WATCH: Man arrested as drugs and cash seized in Caernarfon Due to distinctive markings on his fin, he was identified as a member of the Cardigan Bay population. MEM said: 'When we carried out our initial inspection, we found that his teeth were worn down which is common in this age of dolphin. 'He also had markings across his body from interactions with other bottlenose dolphins. Apart from that, he had no obvious injuries and seemed to have been a healthy dolphin.' After being recovered, Gandalf was then transported to the University of Liverpool, where a post-mortem examination was carried out. This showed that he had been a healthy bottlenose dolphin with a good blubber layer, which indicated that he had been feeding well, but there was no sign of feeding lately. But when his intestines were investigated two hard blockages were found near the anus end. These blockages had caused the intestines to split between the blockages, which is the most likely cause of death for Gandalf. The dorsal fin with notches out which enable identification. (Image: M Sidall) MEM added: 'We currently aren't sure what the blockages are, so they have been sent off for further investigation, but they looked to be a claylike substance. 'The team at Liverpool University have taken lots of samples from all the organs and the blockage. 'These samples will now be sent to partner agencies throughout the UK and Europe for further testing. 'These tests will make sure that there wasn't underling diseases or other contributing factors to his death. They will also test for pollutants and a long list of other things.' If you do come across a stranded marine animal, you can phone call MEM on 0800 652 0333.
North Wales Chronicle
22-04-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Spotter witnesses bottlenose dolphin attack
Spotting enthusiast Holly Williams from Wrexham was one of 12 passengers who witnessed a common dolphin juvenile being killed by four bottlenose dolphins while out on an organised trip from New Quay. The incident which took place last week (April 17) left the group in shock, with experts describing it as a rare encounter. Matthew Westfield from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) explained that climate change encourages more of the species to be out, while a bottlenose may hunt them as a form of "play." Holly, 38, said: "I'm a huge dolphin spotting enthusiastic for chirk Wrexham, and visit new quay cardigan bay with my partner Adam jones (36) and our children. "Between 6-7 times a year, we enjoy all the wildlife there but particularly the bottlenose dolphins who are residents at new quay cardigan bay. We use the company Dolphin Spotting Boat trip, which we see as our extended family. An image capturing the attack (Image: Skye Williams) "While this time taking my extended family on a private boat trip on what began as a normal boat trip along the coast, we spotted one of new quays favourite bottlenose dolphins "Ghost" she was traveling with another dolphin at a good speed and in the distance we could see another 4 dolphins which looked like they were playing breeching out of the water but on closer inspection we seen them fling something out of the water. "We first thought they had a salmon, then thought this is a porpoise (known as porcicide). The attack was all over in about 5 mins, and the dolphins immediately just swam away. My son saw something in the water, unfortunately a dead infant common dolphin. (Image: Holly Williams) "This is extremely rare to witness, although we are aware this does happen, and porcicide has been witnessed before, but it's never seen witnessed with a common dolphin. "Although this was upsetting to witness, there was nothing we or the crew on board could have done to save the calf. Nature can be so cruel sometimes, but as a family, we are aware that these beautiful animals aren't always as friendly as they seem. "We had the most amazing crew on board who contacted their boss, the Seawatch Foundation, and the CSIP, where the decision was made to retrieve the body so it can be studied. "A huge credit must go to Sarah (wildlife guide) and the skipper on board who were both compassionate and respect to us as passengers and to the calf they recovered and nothing was done without our consent. "This will be something that will stay with me forever and something we will probably never witness again in our lifetime. "Whilst on realisation of what was happening, it can be deemed cruel, it was amazing to see such a rare spectacle, as I'm sure many sea life enthusiasts who have spent years watching these fantastic animals have never seen something like this."
Powys County Times
21-04-2025
- Powys County Times
Wrexham spotter witnesses bottlenose dolphin attack
A WITNESS of an 'extremely rare' bottlenose dolphin attack has spoken out about her rare experience at Ceredigion. Spotting enthusiast Holly Williams from Wrexham was one of 12 passengers who witnessed a common dolphin juvenile being killed by four bottlenose dolphins while out on an organised trip from New Quay. The incident which took place last week (April 17) left the group in shock, with experts describing it as a rare encounter. Matthew Westfield from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) explained that climate change encourages more of the species to be out, while a bottlenose may hunt them as a form of "play." Holly, 38, said: "I'm a huge dolphin spotting enthusiast from Chirk, Wrexham, and visit New Quay, Cardigan Bay with my partner Adam jones (36) and our children. "Between 6-7 times a year, we enjoy all the wildlife there, but particularly the bottlenose dolphins who are residents at New Quay, Cardigan Bay. We use the company Dolphin Spotting Boat trip, which we see as our extended family. "While this time taking my extended family on a private boat trip on what began as a normal boat trip along the coast, we spotted one of New Quay's favourite bottlenose dolphins "Ghost" she was traveling with another dolphin at a good speed and in the distance we could see another four dolphins which looked like they were playing breeching out of the water but on closer inspection we seen them fling something out of the water. "We first thought they had a salmon, then thought this was a porpoise (known as porcicide). The attack was all over in about five minutes, and the dolphins immediately just swam away. My son saw something in the water, unfortunately, a dead infant common dolphin. "This is extremely rare to witness, although we are aware this does happen, and porcicide has been witnessed before, but it's never been witnessed with a common dolphin. "Although this was upsetting to witness, there was nothing we or the crew on board could have done to save the calf. Nature can be so cruel sometimes, but as a family, we are aware that these beautiful animals aren't always as friendly as they seem. MOST READ "We had the most amazing crew on board who contacted their boss, the Seawatch Foundation, and the CSIP, where the decision was made to retrieve the body so it can be studied. "A huge credit must go to Sarah (wildlife guide) and the skipper on board who were both compassionate and respect to us as passengers and to the calf they recovered and nothing was done without our consent. "This will be something that will stay with me forever and something we will probably never witness again in our lifetime.
