Marine wildlife response

Stranded whales or dolphins

Parks and Wildlife Service officers respond to dolphin strandings.

If you see a stranded or distressed whale or dolphin call the Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055.

What you can do:

• Put your safety first.
• Call the Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055 – a Parks and Wildlife wildlife officer will arrive as soon as they can.
• While waiting, try to be quiet.
• Keep the animal’s skin moist with buckets of water if possible, avoiding the blowhole.
• Listen to and follow the wildlife officer's instructions.

What NOT to do:

• DO NOT put the safety of yourself or others at risk.
• DO NOT stand close to the tail or head.
• DO NOT attempt to push the animal back out to sea – this will only add to its suffering.
• DO NOT apply sunscreen even if the animal’s skin is burnt.

Information on strandings for common Western Australian whales and dolphins

• Whale and dolphin strandings - short-finned pilot whales405.5 KB
• Bottlenose dolphin1.05 MB
• Common and striped dolphin1.09 MB
• False killer whale275.75 KB
• Gray’s and straptooth beaked whale257.22 KB
• Humpback whale1.19 MB
• Long finned pilot whale253.18 KB
• Minke whale247.46 KB
• Pygmy blue whale1.01 MB
• Southern right whale260.02 KB
• Sperm whale473.84 KB
• Euthanasia methods195.91 KB