Pushing whales or dolphins back into ocean can harm rather than heal

With the whale season drawing closer and the first humpback of the season already spotted off Sydney’s coastline, it seems fitting to raise awareness and education around why pushing a cetacean (whale or dolphin) back into the ocean can harm the animal rather than save it.

When a cetacean is stranded on our beaches, the instinct to help is immediate and deeply human. Many people feel compelled to act quickly, and attempts to push or drag the animal back into the water often occur. While this response comes from a place of compassion, attempting to refloat a stranded cetacean without proper assessment or training can inadvertently cause significant harm, and in many cases, reduce its chances of survival.

Stranding is rarely a simple case of misadventure. Cetaceans are typically stranded because something is already seriously wrong. Illness, injury, disorientation or underlying disease are often the root cause. Often in a fragile, exhausted and compromised state, a cetacean forced back into the ocean without understanding why it was stranded and the correct protocol to assist the cetacean to refloat can result in re-stranding, sometimes repeatedly, or deteriorating further out of sight and becoming easy prey.

Cetaceans are large, heavy animals whose bodies are not designed to support their full weight out of water. When stranded, they can suffer from crush injuries, muscle damage and compromised circulation. Rolling or pushing them incorrectly, even with the best intentions, can worsen internal injuries, damage fins or flukes and place dangerous pressure on vital organs.

There are also risks to people. A distressed cetacean can thrash unpredictably. Their powerful flukes and bodies can cause significant injury, particularly in shallow water where movement is restricted. In some cases, an unwell individual could carry a zoonotic disease (a disease that can pass from an animal to a human), and without appropriate PPE, well-meaning individuals can put their health at risk. 

Trained responders take a careful, evidence-based approach. At ORRCA (Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia), rescuers are trained to assess each situation individually and work alongside specialised veterinarians. This includes evaluating the animal’s condition, species, behaviour, location and likelihood of survival before any refloating attempt is made. 

The best way that members of the public can help is not by pushing the animal back into the water but by keeping a safe distance and calling the ORRCA 24/7 Rescue Hotline on (02) 9415 3333. The most compassionate action is to allow trained professionals to make informed decisions, even when those decisions are difficult. 

Every stranding provides valuable information that helps improve rescue outcomes and deepen our understanding of cetaceans. By giving these animals space and contacting the right people, you are playing a vital role in their welfare and conservation.

It’s also important to remember that cetaceans are oxygen-breathing animals, so they don’t need to be in the ocean to breath. Helping cetaceans isn’t about immediate action, it’s about knowing when to step back and allow licenced rescuers to undertake a welfare assessment and provide immediate first aid. 

If you encounter a stranded marine mammal, do not attempt to intervene. Contact the ORRCA 24/7 Rescue Hotline on (02) 9415 3333 immediately and trained responders can coordinate an appropriate response, as well as talk you through how you can help. If you would like to learn how to respond to marine mammal incidents, consider signing up for an ORRCA training day and becoming one of our trained responders.