Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Irma: Cuba airlifts dolphins to safety from deadly hurricane

Officials move mammals to aquarium in south of country before historic storm rips across north

Jeff Farrell
Saturday 09 September 2017 13:10 BST
Comments
Workers carried the sea creatures to a waiting helicopter to be evacuated as Hurricane Irma threatened the area
Workers carried the sea creatures to a waiting helicopter to be evacuated as Hurricane Irma threatened the area (Agencia Cubana de Noticias/Facebook)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Teams of rescue workers in Cuba airlifted a group of dolphins to safety from Hurricane Irma, hours before winds of up to 160mph struck the area.

The mammals were housed in an aquarium on the island of Cayo Guillermo, off the north central coast of the country, where theCategory 5 storm swept across the archipelago.

Officials removed the six sea creatures from the water and placed them on mats, then wrapped them in giant blue sheets to prepare them for the evacuation.

Men carry the dolphins during their evacuation
Men carry the dolphins during their evacuation (Agencia Cubana de Noticias)

Trainers then massaged the mammals’ head to minimise the distress caused, footage on a local news channel Mediodia showed.

Staff massage the dolphins' heads to reduce the distress they suffer during the evacuation
Staff massage the dolphins' heads to reduce the distress they suffer during the evacuation (Agencia Cubana de Noticias/Facebook)

Rescue workers then carried the dolphins on poles on their shoulders to a waiting helicopter - which flew the mammals to safety in the southern province of Cienfuegos.

The dolphins were put in a swimming pool in a special aquarium where keepers said the habitat gave “similar conditions to their natural life”.

But Dolphinarium manager Gonzalo Carrero Escobar said: “If the weather situation does not allow us to keep them there, they will be displaced to the saltwater swimming pool of a hotel.”

It came hours before Hurricane Irma ripped across the north of Cuba, with winds of up to 160 mph battering areas including Camaguey Archipelago.

Television footage showed huge waves crashing over sea walls and power lines downed as the deadly storm swept past. It is the latest episode in a trail of devastation that Irma has left after pummeling through the Caribbean, leaving 21 dead in its wake.

The mammals during their transit
The mammals during their transit (Agencia Cubana de Noticias/Facebook)

Millions fled from Florida in the past two days as the Category 5 storm is set to batter the southern coast of the state today.

The National Hurricane Centre has issued hurricane and storm surge warnings for the area, where officials ordered a mass evacuation from low-lying areas under threat from the violent winds.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in