There’s a surprising amount of life in the UK’s seas. Common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, pilot whales and minke whales, among other marine mammals, can all be found in our waters. Even humpback whales and orcas are seen off UK coastlines – if you’re lucky!
Sometimes these aquatic mammals can find themselves in trouble and end up beached on land. When this happens, they need help – and fast. But well-meaning members of the public can make things worse for the stranded animal when they unintentionally take the wrong action.
Here’s what you should do – and not to – if you find a beached whale, dolphin or porpoise.
What not to do if you see a beached whale, dolphin or porpoise
People’s first reaction when they see a stranded whale, dolphin or porpoise is to try to get it back into the water but this can make things much worse for the animal. Never try to push or carry a stranded whale, dolphin or porpoise back into the sea.
“They may need treatment and/or a period of recovery before they are fit enough to swim strongly,” says the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) on its website. “They may even be too ill to return to the sea and so any attempts to return them can prolong their suffering.”
While cetaceans aren’t meant to be on land at all, seals are semi-aquatic and do rest onshore as part of their natural behaviour. If you see a seal on land and it’s not malnourished, sick, injured or entangled, it’s probably just resting and needs its space.
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What to do if you see a stranded whale, dolphin or porpoise
If you come across a beached whale, dolphin or porpoise, call the BDMLR for help (01825 765546) at once. They will send a trained team of Marine Mammal Medics to try to help the animal.
While BDMLR’s volunteer medics are on the way, the operator will try to get as much information from you as possible – including any good, clear photos or videos you can take of the stranded animal. Use what3words to give your location to within three metres so they can find you quickly.
The operator will ask you to describe the animal as accurately as possible. Giving them an idea of its size, colouring, markings and any specific features can help them identify the species. They’ll also want you to describe any injuries and check its breathing rate (to do this, count how many times its blowhole opens in one minute).
To help the responding medics prepare, it’s also helpful for them to know what the conditions are like where the whale, dolphin or porpoise is stranded: is it sandy, muddy or rocky? Is the animal in the water and, if not, how far are they from the tide line? What is the weather like where you are and how rough is the sea?
How to help the animal while waiting for medics
While you’re waiting for the medics to arrive, there are a few steps you can take.
Firstly, think of your own safety and that of the people around you. “Do not put yourself in danger with tides, bad weather, rough seas and so on,” says BDMLR.
Stay as quiet as possible, keep movement to a minimum and remove any dogs from the area, even if they’re well-behaved and on a lead. The stranded animal will likely already be stressed out and too much noise or disturbance could distress them even further.
To protect both yourself and the stranded animal, put on a facemask and gloves before approaching. Cetaceans “can carry viruses transmissible to humans (and vice versa!),” it says.
Be very careful and leave plenty of space between you and the animal’s tail. They can be very powerful and can cause serious damage if they start thrashing and hit you.
Sometimes stranded animals get stuck in uncomfortable positions, which can cause them further distress. It’s best to keep them upright. “If the animal is on its side, please upright them by gently rolling them onto their underbelly (You might need some people to help you!),” says BDMLR. “Dig trenches under their pectoral fins so they can hang down comfortably.”
Dolphins, whales and porpoises need to stay cool and wet, and they can overheat very quickly on land. Keep their skin moist by pouring water over their bodies and protect them from sunburn (they have very sensitive skin!) by covering them in a wet sheet, towel or pieces of seaweed.
Cetaceans breathe through their blowhole (the round hole on the top of their head) so always keep this clear and make sure no water gets in.
Keep them wet and its blowhole clear until the Medics arrive to help you and you’ll have played your part in giving this animal the best chance of survival.
What to do if you find a dead whale, dolphin or porpoise
In some sad instances, you might find an animal that has already died. Although it’s too late to save this individual, contacting the right organisation helps scientists learn about the state of our seas.
If you’re in England or Wales, contact the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) on 0800 6520333. If you’re in Scotland, call the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS) on 07979 245893.
They will ask you to provide some information about the dead animal: when and where you found the carcass as well as a description of the animal including its length and condition (is it fresh, starting to decay, or in advanced stages of decomposition?).
If possible, try to identify the species and sex of the animal (there is a useful leaflet here to help you). Take plenty of photos to share with the experts. These can help them confirm the species and decide whether they can do a necropsy (animal autopsy) of the body.
How to become a Marine Mammal Medic
Anyone can train to become a Marine Mammal Medic with the BDMLR. By completing their short training course – which involves both classroom and practical modules – you’ll learn the basics of how to help sick, injured and stranded marine animals.
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Main image: a bottlenose dolphin off the Scottish coast. Credit: Getty