Rescuers attempt to save dozens of stranded dolphins off East End

Officials are attempting to rescue nearly two-dozen stranded dolphins from shallow water on the East End.Residents of the area say the dolphins were twirling and breaching last week but the playful mammals

News 12 Staff

Jan 15, 2007, 3:59 AM

Updated 6,596 days ago

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Officials are attempting to rescue nearly two-dozen stranded dolphins from shallow water on the East End.Residents of the area say the dolphins were twirling and breaching last week but the playful mammals are malnourished and sluggish since getting stuck in creek about four days ago. Officials say four dolphins have already fell victim in Northwest Creek off Sag Harbor and one in nearby North Sea Harbor. Officials believe there are about 20 dolphins left in the creek.A team of 80 experts from the Riverhead Foundation, the Coast Guard, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and marine biologists went on a rescue mission Sunday to save the dolphins from the shallow creek. The goal of the rescue was to herd the dolphins out to deeper waters through an 80-foot wide channel. The day ended with three failed attempts.Rescuers say time is running out. They are afraid if more days pass, they will lose all of the dolphins. DEC officials say they hope to start up the rescue efforts again Monday.