Six dolphins have been entertaining the local community in Belmullet in County Mayo. Rescuers fear the animals could become beached in the shallow water, but an attempt yesterday to coax them out to sea failed. The dolphins are now about 1 mile from the sea in an old canal off Broadhaven Bay. The water in the canal is very shallow and rescuers fear the dolphins may be beached. The rescuers have been seeking to usher the animals back into the sea.
About 14 dolphins have been swimming around the bay for the last month. On Friday night, 6 of them followed a pleasure-boat into the old canal. The Irish Seal Sanctuary, the Marine Mammal Rescue team and the Lifeboats Association are carrying out the rescue attempt. They are asking the general public to stay well back from the dolphins and not to frighten them.
Swimming and boating around the animals has been forbidden. The first rescue attempt yesterday failed due to a lack of resources. The Seal Sanctuary said that talk that the dolphins are mating is "speculation".
