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HELPING TO PROTECT THE FUTURE
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| Welcome to Help A Whale |
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Helpful Info
The United States
Maine:
(207) 288-5015 College of the Atlantic
(617) 973-5246 New England Aquarium
Massachusets and New Hampshire:
(617) 973-5246 New England Aquarium
Connecticut and Rhode Island:
(203) 536-9631 Mystic Aquarium
New York:
(516) 369-9829 Riverhead Foundation
New Jersey:
(609) 266-0538 Marine Mammal Stranding
Delaware:
(302) 739-4782 Division of Fish & Wildlife
Maryland:
(800) 628-9944 Oxford Laboratory
(410) 576-3853 National Aquarium in Baltimore
Washington DC:
(202) 357-1923 Smithsonian Institute
Virginia:
(804) 642-7313 Institute of Marine Science
(804) 437-4949 Marine Science Museum
The Whale Rescue Team
Southern California:
EMERGENCIES: 1 (800) 39-WHALE Non-Emergencies:
1 (310) 455-2729
Australia
ORRCA
Tel: +61 2 9415 333
Fax: +61 2 9918 5497
Argentina
undacíon Cethus
Buenos Aires:
Phone: +54 11 4799 3698
Fax: +54 11 4823 9739
Puerto San Julian:
Phone/Fax: +54 2962 452292
England
RSPCA
Environmental Agency
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
RSPCA:
08705 555 999
Environment Agency:
0800 807060
BDMLR - British Divers Marine Life Rescue:
01634 281 680
Germany
German Police
Research Institute FTZ
National Authority of the National Park
German Police:
110
The Research Institute FTZ in Buesum:
+49 04834 604 280 (o.202)
National Authority of the National Park in the Wadden
Sea, Toenning:
+49 04861 6160
Ireland
Marine Mammal Rescue Team
Irish Whale & Dolphin Group
Irish Seal Sanctuary
Marine Mammal Rescue Team:
283 0800 UNIT 13 99 66
Mobile number: 087 2333406
Irish Whale & Dolphin Group:
Cork - (021) 904197 or (021) 907053
Dublin - 087 2977931
Belfast - (08) 232 38215
Irish Seal Sanctuary:
01 8354370
New Zealand
Project Jonah
PROJECT JONAH:
General Enquiries (09) 302 3106
24 hr. hotline (025) 941 772
Fax (09) 528 1204
Scotland
SSPCA (Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals) Edinburgh - 0131 339 0111
Edinburgh, Lothian and borders, Glasgow, Strathclyde,
Renfre, Dumbarton, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Dumfries, Galloway
Aberdeen - 01224 581 236
City of Aberdeen, Angus, Shetland, Kincardine and
Degside, Banff and Buchan, Dundee, Moray and Nairn
Inverness - 01463 231191
Argyll, Caithness, Sutherland, Inverness, Badenoch
and Strathspey, Orkney, Ross and Cromarty, Skye and Lachalsh, Lochaber, Western
Isles
Wales
e RSPCA RSPCA:
0870 555 9999
What to do if you find a stranded whale or dolphin:
Helping Stranded Animals
WARNING! Marine animals are wild animals. They can carry diseases which
are transferable to humans, and they can cause injury by thrashing their
tails or otherwise. Do not put yourself at risk of injury:
• Approach animals with care - if in doubt just wait
for help.
• Do not attempt to move heavy animals without adequate
assistance.
• Always wash your hands thoroughly after contact.
• Children are particularly at risk from marine mammals
and should stay well clear of them.
A. How to help a live stranded whale or dolphin
1. Send for help. The most important thing is to seek out an expert to
help the animal. Many countries have "strandings networks" of experts who
are specially trained in how to deal with stranding emergencies and have
veterinary specialists associated with them. Their involvement will help
to ensure that the stranded animals are treated kindly and appropriately.
2. While help is on the way calmly approach the animal but be careful;
whales and dolphins can make sudden movements.
3. If you can find assistance, gently roll the animal onto its front
(its belly) and keep its skin wet with sea water. Do not pull on its fins
or tail and be very careful not to get water down its blowhole.
Dolphins and whales breath air through the blow hole which must not be
blocked.
4. Do not drag the animal back to the water. This may cause it a serious
injury.
5. Keep people and dogs away - to reduce the stress to which the animal
is exposed.
6. Wait for expert help and be very careful as these are large, powerful
animals.
B. How to help a live stranded seal or sealion
Similar considerations apply to these animals. However, seals regularly
come out of the sea to rest on the shore and pups are often left alone by
their mothers. So, a pup seen on its own can be a perfectly natural occurrence.
Adults and pups hauled-out on shore can safely be watched from a distance,
but if you approach too closely, the mother may be scared off and abandon
the pup.
If you think a seal is sick, injured or abandoned:
• Telephone for help.
• Keep people and their dogs away.
• Do not get close to injured seals or pups, as they
can give very nasty bites.
• Wait for expert help.
*[Please note that if you do choose to assist a stranded animal you do
so at your own risk - We cannot be held liable for any damage or injury
suffered to persons or property resulting from the assistance of stranded
animals.]
C. Dead marine mammal bodies
Some countries also have a system to which dead stranded cetaceans can
be reported, to allow the bodies to be examined to try to determine causes
of death and collect other important information. If a number for your
country is not listed, it may be helpful to contact the national humane
society and/or emergency services and ask them if they can help.
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This site is dedicated to saving the world's
whales.
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