Marine Animal Welfare

Cetacean Stranding Response Welfare

Responding to live cetacean strandings creates welfare obligations for stranded animals, with stabilisation, refloating decisions, and euthanasia all requiring welfare-centred approaches.

Key Facts

UK cetacean strandings network coordinates responses to live and dead strandings
Live strandings often indicate underlying disease or severe disorientation
Refloating dolphins without treating underlying causes often results in re-stranding
Mass strandings of pilot whales create resource and welfare challenges
Euthanasia for unreleasable individuals is sometimes the most welfare-positive option

Welfare Considerations

Cetacean stranding responses create acute welfare obligations for individual animals. Honest assessment of prognosis, willingness to euthanise when humane outcomes cannot be achieved by treatment, and avoiding prolonging suffering through repeated refloating attempts are all welfare-centred principles for stranding response.

What You Can Do

Report cetacean strandings to the BDMLR or relevant national authority
Support cetacean stranding networks with donations or volunteer training
Learn about the welfare decision-making process in cetacean stranding response