How to rescue a beached dolphin, whale or porpoise

11th Apr 2023 Animals & Pets

It's not uncommon to find a whale, dolphin or porpoise washed up on the shore. If ever you come across one, make sure you're prepared by following these tips

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were enjoying a stroll along the beach and came across a dolphin, whale, porpoise or seal in trouble?

The waters around the UK are home to a wide range of marine life including basking sharks, mike whales, common dolphins and harbour porpoises as well as common and grey seals to name just a few.

Sometimes, these animals find themselves in trouble and need our help. In 2021, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) – the UK charity with a network of volunteers trained to rescue marine animals – received over 3,000 calls to its hotline from members of the public reporting an incident.

So, what should you do if you ever come across a marine mammal in need of rescue?

Make sure the animal does need help

Don't worry if you see a seal on the beach, unless you think they might be injured

Cetaceans (that is, a whale, dolphin or porpoise) are not meant to be out of the water so if one becomes stranded, call for help right away.

But it’s normal for seals to haul out onshore to rest – just because a seal is on land doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in trouble. Watch from a safe distance and if it too thin, sick, injured or is caught up in fishing gear, call for help.

Call the BDMLR’s rescue hotline

Whales, dolphins and porpoises are supposed to live in the water (although, as mentioned, it is normal for seals to rest on land) so lots of people’s initial response is to try to push the animal back into the water. But doing this can unintentionally harm or even kill the animal. It could be too weak to swim or might need medical treatment before it’s released.

"The first thing you should do is call the BDMLR’s 24-hour hotline"

If you come across a live stranded whale, dolphin or porpoise, the first thing you should do is call the BDMLR’s 24-hour hotline (01825 765546) and they’ll send trained volunteers to help.

Give as much information as you can

If you find a beached cetaceans be sure to call for help as soon as possible

When a whale, dolphin or porpoise is out of the water, time is of the essence. While BDMLR medics are on the way, the hotline manager will ask you for more information so their volunteers are fully up to speed when they arrive. This might include:

Your exact location and contact number
The length and description of the animal including any injuries or distinguishing features to help them figure out what species it is

Whether the is animal on rocks, sand or in the shallows
Its breathing rate, which you can check by counting how many times the blowhole opens in one minute
Weather and sea condition
Whether anyone has tried to push the animal back into the sea – if someone has attempted this, it’s important for the BDMLR team to know
Sharing photos you’ve taken

Remain quiet, calm and give the animal space

Keep noise, movement and other disturbances to a minimum to minimise any extra stress to the animal. Remain quiet, calm and keep members of the public at a distance. Dogs should be put on a lead and taken away from the site. Even well-behaved dogs can frighten an injured marine animal.

"Carefully dig trenches under their pectoral fins to make them more comfortable"

Whales, dolphins and porpoises should be kept upright if possible: carefully dig trenches under their pectoral fins (that’s their front flippers) to make them more comfortable.

Keep cetaceans cool and wet

Keep the beached mammal moist, either with wet cloth or seaweed

Keep whales, dolphins and porpoises cool, wet and protected from strong sunshine (they can get sunburn!). If you have sheets or towels, wet them and cover the animal to keep them moist – if not, you could use seaweed. Keep them wet by spraying them with water or gently pouring it over them while you’re waiting for help.

Do not cover their blowhole (the hole on the top of their head, which is like their nostril) or let any water in. Whales, dolphins and porpoises are mammals and breathe air, like us, so water in their blowhole could hurt or even kill them.

Be careful

Whatever animal you’re responding to, be careful and keep well clear of their head (they can carry bacteria that can be dangerous to humans) and powerful tails. These animals are surprisingly strong and can seriously hurt a human – even if they’re injured or sick.

Do not release them back into the sea

It's possible the animal is injured or sick, so don't put it back in the sea without consulting a vet

This is very important so worth mentioning again! There’s usually a reason that an animal becomes beached – it might be sick, malnutritioned or have an injury. This is why releasing them back into the ocean before a vet has checked them and given treatment can cause harm and prolong any suffering.

"There’s usually a reason that an animal becomes beached – it might be sick, malnutritioned or have an injury"

By taking these steps – and calling the BDMLR straight away – you could help save a beached whale, dolphin or porpoise.

For full details of what to do if you find a stranded dolphin, porpoise or whale, or an injured seal, please visit: https://bdmlr.org.uk/what-to-do-if

For information about what to do if you find a dead marine mammal, visit: https://ukstrandings.org/how-to-report-a-stranding/

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