How marine mammal stranding networks respond to beached whales, dolphins, and seals, and what the welfare challenges of rescue and release look like.
Marine mammal strandings present acute welfare challenges: animals in immediate distress that are difficult to assess, handle, and treat due to their size, physiology, and the logistics of working on a beach. The welfare response to strandings requires both immediate triage — including humane euthanasia for animals with no realistic chance of survival — and longer-term rehabilitation for those with good prognoses. Bystander intervention, however well-intentioned, can delay professional response and worsen outcomes. The most important public contribution to stranding welfare is rapid reporting to specialist networks and leaving the animal undisturbed until professionals arrive.