What To Do On FInding A Stranded Whale or Dolphin

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SteveMcBill
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Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:15 am
Location: Runcorn, Cheshire
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What To Do On FInding A Stranded Whale or Dolphin

Post by SteveMcBill »

? What to do if you find a stranded whale or dolphin ?

If you find a LIVE stranded or injured whale or dolphin on the beach you must send for help QUICKLY. A whale or dolphin stranding is an emergency and the speed of response by a professional rescue team is perhaps the most crucial factor in determining whether or not an animal can be returned to the sea alive.

If you find a stranded Whale or Dolphin (any cetacean) then please ring the following relevant phone number (depending on where the stranding is) for immediate assistance:


ENGLAND - 0870 5555 999

WALES - 0870 5555 999

SCOTLAND - 0131 339 0111

CORNWALL - 0845 201 2626

JERSEY - 01534 724331

GUERNSEY - 00 44 1481 257261

British Divers Marine Life Rescue - 01825 765546

You may also come across strandings of DEAD cetaceans. The contact numbers for these are different from the ones for live animals above. They are as follows:

ENGLAND - 0207 942 5155

WALES - 01348 875000

SCOTLAND - 01463 243030

JERSEY - 01534 724331

GUERNSEY - 00 44 1481 727967

Most of the cetaceans washed up are already dead. Some are on amenity beaches and the Local Authority soon gets informed. However, others are on remote beaches, sometimes in inaccessible coves. The urgency is not important in these cases, but records are being kept of all cetaceans washed up. If you have a digital camera, take a photograph and note the following information:

* Please give your name and number.
* An accurate description of where the animal is.
* What you think the animal is.
* An approximate length of the animal.
* Condition of the carcass: (i.e. freshly dead, slight decomposition, moderate
decomposition, advanced decomposition, etc.).

Hope that helps !!

Steve
anno
Posts: 178
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 am
Location: Penketh

Re: What To Do On FInding A Stranded Whale or Dolphin

Post by anno »

"Whale meat again, don't know where don't when............."

On a serious note we have had a number of relatively recent strandings including Minke and Killer Whale in the Mersey Estuary, also seeing Harbour Porpoise fairly regularly at Pickerings Pasture and Hale Point so salient posting Steve.
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