Cetacean strandings are welfare emergencies that require careful decision-making about intervention, treatment, and euthanasia.
Stranded cetaceans experience acute suffering from dehydration, overheating, pressure injuries from their own body weight, and stress from handling. The welfare calculus of stranding response is difficult: refloating animals that are too sick to survive extends suffering without benefit, but early euthanasia requires confident prognosis. Stranding networks train volunteers to make these complex welfare assessments, but resources are chronically inadequate.