Text : Sevi Golinvaux, photos : Sevi Golinvaux and @whitneybdow

As a team member of firmm, I was invited by the Seashore EF team to take part in a practical training session on stranded cetaceans. Seashore EF is an organisation of marine wildlife vets that works in partnership with the Junta de Andalucía to treat animals that have become stranded on the coast of Andalusia. The simulation took place as part of the filming of an American documentary on the relationship between animals and humans in the Strait of Gibraltar (The Strait).

So, on the morning of the 13th of July 2026, I met up at 8.30 am with Leonie and Christine, two volunteers from firmm, as well as around twenty other participants at Playa Chica in Tarifa, where the Seashore EF team and the film crew were waiting for us, along with five Orcas lying on the sand… inflatable ones! Obviously!!

Strandings: they’re not always what you might think!

To begin with, the vet Carolina gives us a very interesting briefing on cetaceans, their anatomy and the reasons behind strandings. Generally speaking, we tend to think that when a dolphin or a whale becomes stranded, we need to intervene to free the animal so that it can return to deeper waters. That’s what we’ve seen in films, so that’s what I thought too… But in fact, this only applies to mass strandings, such as groups of Pilot whales or the accidental stranding of an Orca hunting near the shore.

Generally speaking, if an animal strands, it is because it has a problem, an injury, an illness or is dying. In all cases, strandings are absolute medical emergencies that require rescue teams, specialist vets, and anyone trained to deal with this sort of situation (as we will hopefully be by the end of the training).

The aim of the training is therefore to teach us how to look after the animal until help arrives, by making it feel more comfortable and reducing its stress. The right actions are very important!!

Here’s what you should do and, above all, what you shouldn’t do – and why.

A dangerous situation:

Rescue operations involving live animals pose risks to the safety and health of both the animals and the rescuers. For the animals, the anxiety and stress caused by being stranded can lead to unpredictable and dangerous behaviour, such as lashing out with their fins.

This is why you must always exercise caution and approach the animal from the side or from behind.

There are also real health risks and the danger of disease transmission between humans and animals. Although it is very tempting to stroke the animal, it is recommended that you avoid touching it altogether, or touch it as little as possible, to prevent infection in both directions. Veterinarians always wear gloves and masks for this purpose. It is therefore recommended that an area of 5 to 10 metres around the animal be closed off to prevent curious onlookers from approaching.

The skin:

Cetaceans have sensitive skin, which must be kept moisturised and protected from the sun to prevent sunburn. It is therefore not necessary to constantly pour buckets of water over the animal, as shown in the videos.

It is better to cover the body with wet towels and keep the towels damp using buckets of water. This way, the skin will not only be hydrated but also protected from the sun. If you have a parasol, use it to keep the animal in the shade.

The blowhole:

As you probably know, cetaceans breathe through their blowhole, which is the equivalent of our nose, but is located at the top of their skull. It is therefore very important to keep the blowhole clean and clear (never cover the blowhole!!!) and not to pour water into it (as this poses a risk of drowning).

The fins:

Whales evolved from land mammals; their tail and dorsal fins have developed over time and are made of cartilage. The pectoral fins, on the other hand, are the animal’s former forelimbs and are therefore bony. It is very important never to touch the animal by its pectoral fins, as this carries the risk of shoulder dislocation.

Animals must only be moved using a special stretcher or soft blankets by trained staff.

The layer of fat and the risk of hyperthermia:

To survive in cold waters, whales have a thick layer of fat (blubber), the thickness of which varies depending on the climate of their habitat. When they are out of the water and under the Andalusian sun, this fat causes the animal to retain a great deal of heat, putting it at risk of dying from hyperthermia. Excess heat is dissipated via the parts of the body that lack fat, such as the flippers. It is therefore important to keep the flippers exposed and protected from the sun, and to keep them constantly cool.

The lungs:

Out of the water, the animal’s weight will compress its lungs and cause respiratory distress. To relieve the animal, it is a good idea to dig a hole beneath its flank and pour water into it; this will also cool it down at the same time.

In practice, how should you proceed if you come across a stranded animal, whether alive or dead?

1. Do not return the animal to the sea.
2. Call 112, give your exact location and your mobile number so that the vets can call you back.
3. Gather information about the animal’s condition and species, and take photos and videos.
4. Protect the animal from the sun using a parasol and damp towels.
5. Clear a radius of at least 5 metres around the animal and prevent onlookers from approaching or touching it (this would only increase its stress and the risk of infection).

6. Stay with the animal and look after its welfare; keep its skin constantly moistened, without blocking its airways, until the veterinary team arrives. This may take a while … be prepared for delays. Often, the police or the Guardia Civil will then take over further care.

To finish off, we simulated rescuing a whale using a stretcher! Luckily for us, it was an inflatable Orca! Especially as we had to repeat the scene several times until the camera crew were happy with the footage for the documentary …

Armed with this knowledge, we hope above all not to encounter any suffering dolphins or whales, but rather to be able to admire them time and again in the wild, in their natural habitat, the Strait of Gibraltar.

Further information (Spanish):

Cómo actuar si vemos a un animal varado - seashoreenvironmentfauna