Found injured marine wildlife?

02 What to do

While you wait.

1. Keep yourself safe. Stay off wet rocks in big swell and keep well back from the animal.
2. Call the right line straight away. ORRCA for marine mammals, WIRES for sea turtles, seabirds and other native wildlife.
3. Say exactly where it is. The beach or headland, the nearest access track or landmark, and a map pin if your phone can share one.
4. Describe what you see, from a distance: the kind of animal if you know it, its size, any injuries or entanglement, and whether it is moving.
5. Keep people, dogs and vehicles away, and keep noise down.
6. Stay nearby if it is safe, and follow the rescuers’ advice on the phone.

03 What not to do

Please don’t.

• Don’t push a stranded whale or dolphin back into the sea. It may be sick or injured. Wait for trained rescuers.
• Don’t cut fishing gear off an entangled sea turtle. WIRES asks you to call them immediately: these rescues need trained marine wildlife volunteers.
• Don’t try to untangle tight fishing line or netting from a bird or other animal yourself. Leave it to vets and wildlife carers.
• Don’t feed the animal or give it anything to drink.
• Don’t touch or crowd a seal resting on the beach. Keep your distance and dogs on a lead, and call ORRCA if it looks injured or is in a busy spot.

Turtle and fishing line advice from WIRES: Entanglements, what to do. Everything else here is general guidance: always follow the advice of the rescue line you call.