ON-SITE ASSESSMENT

A full on-site assessment of the animal’s condition ideally should only be made by the First Responder, ideally with the assistance of a veterinary surgeon, having notified the relevant authorities.

On-site Assessment:

It can be difficult to get a detailed onsite assessment of the animal based solely on the circumstances of the stranding. The lead trained responder is therefore challenged to get as much information as possible in order to make an informed decision on how to proceed.

ALIVE OR DEAD? The first question to answer is whether the animal is alive or dead. This seems like an obvious determination, but it can require more careful observation than one would think. The lead responder should keep a safe distance of 5 meters and approach from behind where possible. Respiratory rates can indicate the level of stress the animal is under. Respiration rate can be examined by watching the opening and closing of the blowhole. However, cetaceans do not breathe in and out continuously like terrestrial mammals, they hold their breath. Large whales may hold their breath for a long time, even several minutes. So, while waiting the veterinarian may check the corneal reflex as well. Typically, 1 breath/minute in medium to large cetaceans. Generally, for dolphins 2-5 breaths per minute is normal, while 6 breaths per minute indicate moderate stress, and 10 breaths per minute indicate high stress levels.