A group of volunteers took part in a training exercise on Saturday to help stranded whales and dolphins in the Moray Firth.
The course was held at the Wildlife Centre at Spey Bay and taught participants how to respond to a real-life emergency. An inflatable whale was “stranded” to help volunteers learn how to treat the creature and get it back into the water safely.
Staff and volunteers from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) took part in the training, which was led by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).
The event came just three weeks after a 40ft sperm whale became beached at Alturlie, a few miles from Inverness. The massive mammal was declared dead after being trapped in the shallow waters of the Moray Firth for more than a day.
Rescuers and helpers did not have the equipment to put the distressed animal out of its misery.
In recent decades, whales and dolphins have stranded due to a number of reasons, many caused by humans, such as lack of prey, being caught in nets, being hit by boats, or noise pollution. Whales and dolphins also become stranded naturally, some in good health, and these animals can usually be returned to the sea.
Sarah Dolman, WDCS head of policy for Scotland, said: “It is essential that we are prepared to deal with any situation and volunteers are trained to respond.”
Andrew Ireland, regional co-ordinator for BDMLR, said: “We have seen a number of strandings in the area recently. The training ensures we are all familiar with the equipment and are ready to respond to the next stranding.”
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