JSPCA PRESS RELEASE

September 2004  

JSPCA ANIMALS' SHELTER ASSISTS WITH MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING TRAINING EXERCISE

A British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) Mass Marine Mammal Stranding training exercise was held at Green Island on Saturday 25^th September 2004.  The BDMLR – Jersey Group are affiliate members of the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter.

Four divers, trained marine mammal medic tutors, from the BDMLR travelled to Jersey to prepare for the training exercise.  On the day of the simulated mass stranding exercise, marine mammal medics from the BDMLR - Jersey Group worked along side the local Police and Fire Service to ‘rescue’ stranded model whales and dolphins from the Green Island coastal area. 

In the early morning on the day of this training exercise, the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter was contacted by one of the tutors, posing as a member of the public, who had spotted some stranded marine mammals on the beach near Green Island and wanted advice on what to do next.  The reception staff at the JSPCA advised the tutor accordingly and then alerted all of the members of the BDMLR-Jersey Group of the ‘unfolding situation’, using the emergency BDMLR contact list kept by the reception staff.

On arrival at the scene of the mass stranding exercise, the Jersey marine mammal medics found themselves faced with four stranded marine mammals (models), all of which had to be looked after until the tide came in and re-floatation was deemed possible, provided the animals were assessed by the attending veterinary surgeons to be physically fit enough for re-floatation.  After this physical assessment, the marine mammal medics were responsible for keeping the animals (life-like and life-size models) cool and moist with sea water for a good part of the whole day, until re-floatation could be attempted, with help from the Jersey Fire Service Offshore Rescue Team, when the tide came in. 

ENDS

• The JSPCA Affiliation Scheme was developed and introduced in 2001, whereby local animal charities and organisations are invited to “join forces” and work together with the JSPCA to ensure that scarce resources are best utilised.  The aim of this scheme is to present a united front against animal cruelty and promote all aspects of animal welfare.

• The BDMLR Jersey Group is a new branch of the charitable organisation “British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR)” which has been set up to help in the rescue of stranded, injured or distressed marine mammal wildlife.  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 hour rescue service has grown.  BDMLR now train over 300 Marine Mammal Medics a year and have over 20 whale rescue pontoons located at strategic points throughout the United Kingdom, waiting to help stranded whales and dolphins.  These teams of volunteers regularly train to refresh techniques and meet socially to keep in touch with each other and raise funds.

In December 2003, the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter hosted a BDMLR Marine Mammals Medics Course and, as a result, the BDMLR - Jersey Group was established, which consists of trained volunteers that are prepared to be on call 24 hours a day in the event of a marine mammal stranding on the coast of Jersey.

• The BDMLR – Jersey Group would like to thank Condor Ferries Limited for transporting the BDMLR instructors to Jersey from the South of England with all their equipment and life-like marine mammal models.