Mini mammal faces uncertain future (From Western Telegraph)

Mini mammal faces uncertain future

1:34pm Thursday 17th April 2008 in News

A marine expert is fearing for the safety of a baby dolphin which was trapped for a day in Fishguard Harbour before freeing itself last night.

Cliff Benson of dolphin conservation charity Sea Trust first received reports of the mimi mammal at 9am yesterday morning. It disappeared at midday but resurfaced later in the afternoon, swimming in circles in the shallows of the harbour.

The yearling had become separated from its pod. Cliff thinks it may have become disoriented either by the recent disturbance of Cardigan Bay by scallop dredgers, or by military exercises in the Irish Sea.

Cliff enlisted the help of the Welsh Marine Life Rescue Centre and a local boat owner when the common dolphin was still stuck in the harbour at around 7pm last night.

They planned to go out to the mammal, measuring around a metre, and check it over, possibly then asking the local lifeboat crew who were out on exercise to guide the animal into open waters.

Minutes after the rescue operation was instigated the dolphin headed for open waters of its own accord.

Cliff hopes that it will now find its pod, if not he fears it will die.

"If it doesn't find its pod its chances of survival are nil," he said. "A pod of dolphins was spotted in the area yesterday but it is unlikely that they will still be around.

"This is an ongoing situation and we will continue to keep an eye on it," he said today (Thursday).

"I have been down to the harbour this morning and there is no sign of the dolphin. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing."

Anyone with any Pembrokeshire cetacean sightings or concerns can contact Cliff at Sea Trust on 01834 875639.