Cape Cod is opening first-ever dolphin ICU after 400 marine mammals were found stranded on its beaches in just five years – more than anywhere else in the world

The first-ever dolphin intensive care unit of its kind opens in Cape Cod after 400 dolphins stranded in the area in just five years, more than anywhere else in the world.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) announced Thursday that it will open a short-term animal hospital in Massachusetts later this month.

Currently, IFAW members treat the dolphins on site before immediately releasing them, which prevents the dolphins from having the time they need to fully recover.

Stranded dolphins are often stressed and dehydrated, requiring additional diagnostics, treatment and recovery time before being released back into the ocean.

The rehabilitation center will be unique in that it aims to release animals in four days, rather than having to care for them for months or even years, as other similar facilities do.

Cape Cod sees more stranded dolphins and porpoises than any other coast in the world

Brian Sharp, director of IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue & Research team, said, “This is the first time this has been attempted before.”

“Currently, there are no such facilities for dolphins north of Florida, requiring IFAW staff to treat stranded animals in the field only,” he added.

“However, some dolphins cannot receive the care they need to survive under the current paradigm.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has already evaluated the facility with positive feedback, so it is expected to open within a few days, IFAW told DailyMail.com on Thursday.

Cape Cod sees more stranded dolphins, whales and porpoises than any other coast in the world.

While good habitat for these mammals, the geography can make it difficult for them to navigate the region. In addition, tidal waves can quickly change the coastline.

On Thursday, IFAW members helped two dolphins stranded in Nantucket’s The Creeks area

IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue & Research team, formerly known as the Cape Cod Stranding Network, has been responding to the area’s mammal strandings for 25 years

One theory is that the sea creatures become stranded during low tide while hunting for food. When the tide goes out, the dolphins become stranded.

On Thursday, IFAW members helped two dolphins stranded in Nantucket’s The Creeks area. They thought they were the same dolphins that stranded in Polpis harbor on Wednesday night

IFAW has renovated a former retail space to house two large 4-5 meter diameter pools and filtration systems to catch the stranded dolphins.

The group hopes that the center will help not only with the treatment of the mammals, but also with research.

The center will also have an office and a veterinary laboratory.

Initially, the hospital expects to be able to accommodate about twelve patients per year, one at a time.

The center will not be open to the public, but people will be able to view educational materials and the activities in the facility through a closed-circuit television public outreach center in the front room.

“The entrance will include a 300-square-foot education and outreach center that will tell the story of the Cape Cod strandings, what we learn from strandings, and will have a monitor that connects live to the rehab pools when patients are in the house,” says the group in a statement.

Formerly known as the Cape Cod Stranding Network, IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue & Research team has been responding to mammal strandings in the area for 25 years.