The International Fund for Animal Welfare responded to a major dolphin stranding Wednesday in Wellfleet, rushing to aid 14 of the mammals in the Herring River Gut area.

A spokesperson for IFAW said two of the dolphins died before they could be rescued. The other 12 were transported to Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown for possible release.

Late Wednesday night, four had been guided back into the water and eight others were undergoing health assessments before release.

This is the biggest cetacean stranding year in the history of IFAW.

As of this week, the Yarmouth Port-based organization has responded to 113 live whale and dolphin strandings.