Refloating stranded dolphins

The Malta Tourism Authority recently organised a clean-up of St George's Bay, St Julian's, as part of an educational campaign promoting the bay's Blue Flag pilot beach status.

As part of the clean-up, Nature Trust's Marine Rescue Team Unit gave a presentation about whales and dolphins, followed by a dolphin rescue demonstration carried out on a life-sized dummy dolphin.

The team demonstrated the techniques used to refloat a live-stranded dolphin.

Children then helped in the rescue while the team members emphasised that the public should not approach a stranded dolphin. The team consists of 10 volunteers made up of divers, scientists and on-call vets.

The members are trained in marine mammal and turtle rescue, and work with the authorities to help live stranded dolphins and turtles. They also gather information from dead strandings.

In case of a sighting or a stranding or to make a donation the Rescue Team co-ordinator may be contacted on 9942-2085 or mlcg@waldonet. net.mt.