VIDEO: Porpoise rescued from Grangemouth burn

A rescue operation was launched this morning (Tuesday) after a harbour porpoise was found in a Grangemouth burn.
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A member of the public spotted the mammal struggling in the shallow water of the town’s Grange Burn before raising the alarm.

A Police Scotland spokesman said officers were contacted at around 7.25am after a young female porpoise was discovered within the burn in Grangeburn Road by a member of the public.

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Police attended and passed the incident to the Scottish SPCA and other expert agencies.

Bob Ward, animal rescue officer for the Scottish SPCA, said: “We were alerted to a porpoise that became stranded in shallow waters in Grange burn.

“It is likely the porpoise became disorientated and got caught out by the changing tides.

“The tide had already gone out so we laid wet towels on top of her and transported her to Blackness where we managed to get her into deeper water.”

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British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) officers were called to the scene and after checking the porpoise for injuries and taking advice from a vet, the rescue team lifted it from the water and drove it to a spot at Blackness with deeper water.

Pic: Scottish SPCAPic: Scottish SPCA
Pic: Scottish SPCA

Mr Ward added: “It was such a relief to get her back into the water safely thanks to a tremendous team effort from British Divers Marine Life Rescue and my fellow animal rescue officer Kirsty Mitchell.”

The BDMLR has praised the woman who found the stricken porpoise after she waded in to the cold, muddy water and helped keep it afloat until help arrived.

Video captured by Michelle Ferrier on Facebook shows the pospoise clinging to the shore as rescuers prepare to transport it to deeper water at Blackness.

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Commenting on the video, Sarah Smith said the rescue went well: “[It] was looking pretty good when it left. It stayed calm and let them do their job.

Pic: Scottish SPCAPic: Scottish SPCA
Pic: Scottish SPCA

“Hope the release goes as well as the rescue.”

Teri Charlton, a Marine Mammal Medic for British Divers Marine Life Rescue, gave an update in the comments.

She said: “We are moving it to deeper waters and that’s the best chance we can give the animal.”

Anyone who discovers an injured or distressed wild animal should call the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999.