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Tangled Dolphin's Tragic Fate in Ipswich River
17 Oct
Summary
- A common dolphin was found tangled in netting in the River Orwell near Ipswich.
- Rescuers disentangled the dolphin, but it later died despite efforts.
- Scientists will conduct a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
A common dolphin was spotted entangled in netting within the River Orwell, approximately 11 miles from its mouth near Ipswich. Rescuers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, assisted by fire services and a marine vet, managed to disentangle the mammal.
Despite being freed and showing signs of recovery, the dolphin was later found dead. The animal, a male measuring 2.2 meters, was recovered and will undergo a post-mortem examination by the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme.
While dolphins are typically offshore species, they are sometimes seen closer to shore following food sources. It is unusual, though not unheard of, for them to venture so far upriver into freshwater environments, with other instances documented across the UK resulting in fatalities.
