A dolphin, stranded at the far end of Stanley Harbour, has been successfully rescued by Falklands Conservation. The young male Peale’s Dolphin was found on Tuesday morning 19 February 2008 in shallow water below a minefield on a falling tide. No other dolphins were in the area. It appeared to be well nourished and healthy with no obvious wounds and had not yet dried out or been attacked by birds. Peale’s Dolphins, fairly common in the Falklands, are confined to the coastal waters of southern South America.

Whilst specialist equipment was being assembled and brought to the site, the animal was kept cool and moist with a fine water spray and damp towels making sure the blow hole was kept clean and unobstructed. Due to a large stretch of shallow water and slight sand-bar to seaward from where the dolphin was stranded, and the fact that this area of the harbour (known as the Canache) is considered a "suspect area" for mines, the decision was taken to release the dolphin at Surf Bay where it would have direct access to deeper water.

The dolphin was gently rolled onto a carry sling and transported by Land Rover the short distance across the isthmus to Surf Bay. It was then carried to just beyond the surf break and the sling gently lowered so that the dolphin refloated but was still restrained by the sling so that it had time to orient itself.

It seems ironic but often in a state of stress and disoriented a released dolphin cannot balance itself or, through muscle cramp, cannot immediately swim and is at risk of drowning. The sling was then sunk below the dolphin and at first tentatively and then more strongly the dolphin swam back out into the sea. In all the operation took approximately 2 hours from first report to release.

There was a sense of elation heightened by the immediate arrival of a pod of approximately 5 or 6 more Peale's Dolphins that raced in from seaward as the dolphin was being released and somersaulted clear of the water as if in celebration. Whilst the released dolphin appeared to swim a little offshore, clear of the waves, others stayed and played in the waves putting on a display for the rescuers.

It is not known why the animal may have stranded although it was at the far end of the Canache with slightly shallower water behind it. A pod of Peale's are often seen in Port William and round to Surf Bay so it is hoped that the animal will have joined its own family pod. Grant Munro, Falklands Conservation Chief Executive, says that 'often in the Falklands, due to an extensive coastline and few people, strandings are spotted too late to be able to refloat the animals so it is great to have been able to have saved this one.'

Staff at Falklands Conservation have undertaken training with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue and are qualified as Marine Mammal Medics able to promptly respond to reports of strandings. The charity has published first aid guidelines for marine mammal rescue including what to do if a stranded animal is spotted. This includes an identification guide for the most commonly encountered dolphins and whales in Falkland waters and safe practices for both the dolphin and the rescuers.