|
|
Hopes porpoise Dylan is 'Blowin'
in the Wind'
28.02.14
THERE are high hopes a
stranded baby porpoise nicknamed 'Dylan' that was
'stuck inside of Moville' this week has managed to
rejoin its pod.
Affectionately nick-named after the seaside town's
annual Bob Dylan music festival, the young creature
was discovered injured along the shores of Lough
Foyle on Tuesday afternoon.
Locals including Anthony Craig, zoologist Trish
Murphy and several others came to the maimed
creature's aid and kept a close eye on it in the
Bredagh river for two days.
As the tide receded on Tuesday night about 8.30pm Mr
Craig and Ms Murphy made brave attempts to get the
young mammal back to sea. |
 |
|
Local zoologist Trish Murphy lifts
the baby porpoise to safety. Photo: Anthony Craig. |
They waded into the
water and guided it down the river before Ms Murphy
lifted it in her arms and waded thigh-deep into
Lough Foyle to release it.
"Usually a porpoise would take between two and five
breaths a minute but its breaths were more rapid
than that and I could feel its heart thumping very
strongly. It was really quite weak and I didn't
think it was going to make it," Ms Murphy told
InishowenNews.
River Row resident Anthony first discovered the
porpoise as he walked his dog near his home on
Tuesday. His wife Jacqueline and their son Keith
were also part of the drama over the two days.
Mr Craig found the creature beached again early on
Wednesday morning and brought it back into deep
water. |
 |
|
'Dylan' beached near River Row.
Photo: Anthony Craig. |
As marine experts
advised that the creature would be best left to its
natural fate, all those involved were delighted when
he appeared to finally make his bid for freedom.
River Row resident and DylanFest organiser Gerry
McLaughlin and his children Rhea and Robbie were
also involved in minding the porpoise during its
unscheduled visit to local shores.
Gerry said: "The probability is that he made it and
he is out in the lough swimming about with his pod
again. If he was able to make contact with (them)
they would have come to help him. Maybe he’ll come
back to visit us again some time."
Porpoise Facts
- Porpoises are marine mammals
- Shorter and stockier than their dolphin cousins
- They can grow up to 8 feet in length and can weigh
between 100 and 400 lbs
- They can reach speeds of over 30mph.
- They reach maturity between three and five years
- Average life-span 10 - 20 years
- Porpoises navigate using echo-location
- They survive on fish, squid and crustaceans |
|
