Dolphin strandings require rapid community and expert response; welfare during rescue determines survival outcomes.
Stranded dolphins suffer from dehydration, skin damage, organ stress from their own weight, and the distress of disorientation. Improper rescue attempts including returning animals to the water too early or without resolving the underlying cause increases mortality. Well-coordinated rescue involving trained teams dramatically improves outcomes. Mass strandings create tragic triage decisions where some animals must be euthanized to allow resources for others.