Live cetacean strandings are welfare emergencies requiring rapid response, species-specific expertise, and difficult decisions about whether to attempt refloating or to euthanise suffering animals.
Live cetacean strandings cause significant welfare suffering. Stranded animals experience dehydration, hyperthermia from sun exposure, compression injury from unsupported body weight, and respiratory distress. Attempting to refloat animals that are not viable prolongs suffering. For large whale strandings, humane euthanasia using large-gauge pharmaceutical agents is the most welfare-positive outcome when refloating is impossible, but the logistics of large whale euthanasia are considerable. Rapid professional response that prioritises welfare assessment over public sentiment about refloating improves welfare outcomes significantly.