Cetacean strandings - whales, dolphins, and porpoises beaching or stranding - are welfare emergencies requiring rapid response, with rescue outcomes depending critically on response network capacity.
Cetacean stranding welfare encompasses both the immediate welfare emergency and the longer-term management of the stranded animal. Beached cetaceans experience thermal stress, physical injury from their own weight compressing organs, dehydration, and extreme psychological distress. Time to response is critical - prolonged stranding causes progressive organ damage. Euthanasia is often the most welfare-positive outcome when animals are severely injured or ill, but must be performed by trained personnel. For live strandings of healthy animals, refloating with appropriate monitoring offers the possibility of survival. Noise pollution from military sonar has been implicated in mass strandings and is a focus of international welfare and conservation concern.