JSPCA PRESS RELEASE

December 2003  

BRITISH DIVERS MARINE LIFE RESCUE, MARINE MAMMAL MEDIC COURSE 

In association with the JSPCA Animals' Shelter, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) successfully held the popular Marine Mammal Medic Course on Saturday 6th December 2003.  The course was divided into two halves that consisted of a morning session and a practical afternoon session.  The morning was composed of a series of lectures, held at the JSPCA Animals' Shelter Education Centre, about marine mammal biology and physiology, and first aid and rescue techniques for both seals and cetaceans.  In the afternoon, the course continued at the waters edge in Quaisne Bay, where there were practical lessons in handling, lifting and first aid techniques for seal and dolphin rescue.  There was also the opportunity to refloat a life-sized model of a Pilot whale.

The JSPCA Animals' Shelter is always available to assist in the rescue and rehabilitation of all Jersey's injured wildlife.  Members of the JSPCA have rescued two stranded Grey seals off the Jersey coastline over the last two winters which emphasizes the need for specialist training in the field of marine mammal rescue, in order to offer more help to stranded seals and dolphins on the coast of Jersey and improve our care for marine wildlife, ultimately assisting in the conservation of marine mammalian species.

Colleagues from a number of different walks of life attended the BDMLR Marine Mammal Medic course, including veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons from local Practices, as well as experienced divers.  Having completed this course, the attendees will now be registered as qualified Marie Mammal Medics that may be called upon to mobilise a team to respond to any marine disaster or marine stranding occurring in Jersey, effectively offering a specialised 24 hour rescue service.

The JSPCA Animals' Shelter was able to hold this course through the kind help and assistance from the Gerard Le Claire Trust, Morvan Family Hotels, the GSPCA, Aurigny Air Services and Apnea Diving Shop.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

• The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) is a registered charity. BDMLR was formed in 1988 in response to the mass mortality of Harbour seals in the Wash area of East Anglia. From these early beginnings, when a few like minded divers got together to help marine wildlife, a committed 24 hr rescue service has grown. BDMLR now train over 300 Marine Mammal Medics a year and have 20 whale rescue pontoons located at strategic points throughout the UK waiting to help stranded whales and dolphins. Marine Animal Rescue Ambulances are sited throughout the UK ready to be sent to an incident. Teams of volunteers regularly train to refresh rescue techniques and meet socially to keep in touch with each other and raise funds.  (www.bdmlr.org.uk)