Whale and dolphin strandings are distressing events requiring rapid, expert welfare response to minimise suffering, determine whether refloating is viable, and address the underlying causes.
Stranded cetaceans present acute welfare crises requiring decisions under pressure about when to attempt rescue, when to refloat, and when to euthanase. The welfare of the individual animal must be paramount, which sometimes means recommending euthanasia against the wishes of volunteers and onlookers who naturally wish to see every animal survive. Training stranding response networks in welfare assessment and euthanasia capacity is essential. At the systemic level, addressing the primary drivers of strandings — naval sonar, ocean noise pollution, plastic ingestion, and climate-driven prey shifts — is the only long-term solution.