If you’re the first to discover a stranding call DOC or Project Jonah immediately.
Emergency Contact Numbers:
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DOC Stranding Hotline: 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
Project Jonah Stranding Hotline: 0800 4 WHALE (0800 4 94253)
If all else fails dial 111 and inform the Police. |
Before phoning in make a thorough evaluation first. The more information you give us the better informed our decisions and response will be.
Assess the situation:
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Number of animals – how many have stranded? Are they all on the beach, or are there whales grounded in the water or milling out at sea?
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Species? If you’re not sure then just describe the animals. How big are they? What colour are they? Do they have any markings or colour patterns – for example a gray saddle patch ontheir back? How big is their dorsal fin? Do they have one?
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Condition – what sort of condition are they in? Are they alive or are they dead? Do they have any obvious injuries?
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State of the tide? Is the tide high or low? Is it incoming or outgoing?
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Sea and weather conditions? Is the sea calm or rough? Are there breakers inshore, white caps at sea?
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Access problems? Is the beach easily accessible? Will DOC or Project Jonah be able to get equipment down to the scene? Is the area only accessible by boat?
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Are there people or dogs on the scene?
When you phone in:
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Give your name and your contact phone number. Stay by the phone if possible so that you can be contacted again if more information is required
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Give your location, including directions to the site and any points of reference
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Give a full evaluation of the stranding, inlcuding what time you discovered it
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You will be asked to stay by the phone or return to the whale to begin basic first add
Do
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Keep the animal cool by pouring water gently over its body, focusing on the fins and tail flukes
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Cover the animal with towels or sheets (even seaweed) - keep these wet
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Move any animals lying on their sides into an upright position. Dig a shallow impression alongside the animal and roll them gently upright into the indentation
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Dig trenches under the flippers to relieve cramping
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Keep the stranding site as quiet as possible
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Keep noisy children and barking dogs away
Don't
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Cover or pour water down the blowhole
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Step on, near or over the tail
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Stand directly in front of the animal's head
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Pull the animal by its tail
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Shout or make loud noises
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Drag or roll the animal to water
Click here to download your own stranding poster. Help us educate others by posting these up in your local community.
