Mayo IWDG is a dedicated local group of IWDG members based in County Mayo. Our focus is on live-stranded dolphins, general strandings, and sightings. We’re a passionate team that not only responds to strandings but also collects DNA samples from deceased animals for the Natural History Museum’s Irish Cetacean Genetic Tissue Bank. Each coastal county in Ireland has its own local IWDG group, all united by a shared love for whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Mayo IWDG is thrilled to have received its very own Common Dolphin training model, thanks to funding from Department of Rural and Community Development via Mayo Public Participation Network and support from Andy at the Whale Workshop.
The Mullet Peninsula is one of Ireland’s primary hotspots for live strandings of pelagic common dolphins. While feeding in Blacksod Bay, dolphins can sometimes become disoriented over large sand flats in areas like Tarmon, Elly, and other key beaches. If they don’t leave these areas before the tide goes out, they can become stranded for hours until the tide returns.
Fortunately, thanks to the quick response of our dedicated network of IWDG volunteers and the local community, many of these dolphins are spotted in time and are often safely escorted back to deeper waters, such as Blacksod or Falmore, after a short trip by road in a trailer or the back of a jeep.
This new training model will be invaluable for our volunteers, providing refresher training, assisting with mass stranding scenarios, and even visiting local schools to help educate the next generation about these incredible creatures that grace our coastal waters.
A huge thank you to Department of Rural and Community Development, Mayo PPN for making this possible!