Dolphins on Irish shores: what Dublin Zoo's vet wants you to know

When a dolphin strands on an Irish beach, the clock starts ticking. Dublin Zoo's veterinary team is often among the first to respond, and this week viewers get a rare look at that work when The Zoo returns to RTÉ One tonight.

In the new episode, vet Frank O'Sullivan races beyond the walls of the Phoenix Park to help a stranded dolphin refloat. But his message to the public is clear: sometimes the best help is knowing what not to do.

Why are more dolphins stranding on Irish coasts?

Live strandings of dolphins and whales have become a common talking point in Ireland, with numbers seemingly climbing each year. Frank puts it in stark terms: from an average of about 35 animal strandings per year 15 years ago, Ireland now sees over 100 dolphins and whales annually.

But he is quick to add a nuance: