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An increasing number of whales, dolphins, and porpoises are being found stranded on UK beaches, prompting a call for more volunteers to assist in their rescue. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), an organization dedicated to marine wildlife protection, is expanding its volunteer workforce to cope with the rising demands of assessing, providing first aid, and refloating stranded marine mammals.
Dan Jarvis, BDMLR’s director of welfare and conservation, explained that there has been a noticeable rise in strandings across the UK in recent years, particularly following winter storms. He suggested that the uptick may relate to multiple causes, including human-related dangers, increased public reporting due to greater awareness, and the higher availability of prey near shorelines. Data from BDMLR shows that live strandings have more than doubled since 2018, climbing from 22 cases to 46 by 2025, with the peak for 2023 and 2024 reaching into the 60s annually. These figures account for individual incidents, which sometimes involve more than one animal.
BDMLR continually offers training sessions where volunteers learn how to safely use specialized equipment meant for refloating large stranded animals. Whales present the greatest challenge, and participants practice on a life-sized, two-tonne replica of a pilot whale filled with air and water to mimic real conditions. Jarvis noted that this model is so lifelike that it often draws public attention during training exercises. The rescue process includes carefully moving the animal on a large mat equipped with inflatables into deeper water, then gently rocking it to stimulate muscle recovery and blood flow—a procedure that requires skilled teamwork and patience. Despite volunteer numbers increasing from approximately 2,000 to nearly 3,500 over the past eight years, Jarvis emphasized that some coastal regions are still short of trained responders.
Volunteers must complete a £150 Marine Mammal Medic Course run by BDMLR, after which they are placed on a register to be called upon for rescues. Among recent trainees is Cat Douglas, a youth work manager, who joined training to ensure she could provide helpful support rather than cause difficulties during an emergency. Police officer James Merrikin, accustomed to crowd control at strandings, found the hands-on rescue work a very different and positive experience. Jarvis highlighted that volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and often do not meet again until a real rescue callout, but working together accomplishes remarkable outcomes. Training also extends to rescuing dolphins and injured seals, with common dolphins and harbour porpoises frequently affected by strandings, often caused by bycatch. Safety is a top priority; BDMLR’s head veterinary consultant, Natalie Arrow, reminded that marine mammals can transmit diseases to humans, and volunteers learn safe handling techniques to protect themselves.
The general public is strongly advised not to attempt moving stranded animals or pushing them back into the water, as this can cause more harm and put people at risk. Instead, the charity urges witnesses to keep the area quiet, control crowds and pets, keep the animal moist without letting water enter its blowhole, and promptly alert BDMLR. Jarvis described rescues as tense but incredibly rewarding, explaining, “When we refloat an animal, we’re assessing it in the water for the first time. Seeing it swim off strongly is exhilarating – it means it has a good chance.”
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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