BDMLR rescue exercise in Malta

I was fortunate to be invited to attend a training event for marine mammal rescue organised by British Divers Marine Life Rescue in Malta after the ECS meeting. 

The event was held at the Xrobb I-Ghagin Nature Park where a new animal hospital is in the process of being constructed in an old (earthquake proof) military signals centre.

Here are a few images.

The centre already serves as a place for environmental
education but the plan is for its to be a wildlife hospital
and also host a hostel for volunteers

View of the adjacent coats
(There are tuna cages offshore here)

Marine Mammal rescue in theroy led by veterinarian James Barnet

James in mid-flow

Stephen Marsh leads the practical - here he is explaining how to tell the gender of a dolphin using a water-filled bottlenose dolphin model. The point of the water is to make it weigh as much as the real thing and part of the exercise was to show how to safely move the 'animal' using simple materials .

Volunteers prepare to lift
(Straight backs were required.) 

More about BDMLR and their training courses (and what to do if you find a stranded dolphin or whale.HERE

"Help me!"