MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING/ ENTANGLEMENT NETWORKS

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Please call one of the marine mammal agencies listed BELOW to report a stranding. The links are grouped by region to make your selection easier. If you find a broken or outdated link, or know of an excellent related link which we are missing, please contact us.

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1. Do not touch, pick up, or feed the animal.  Do not return the animal to water.
2. Observe the animal from a distance of at least 50 feet.  Keep people and dogs away.
3. Note physical characteristics such as size, presence of external ears and fur color.
4. Note the animal’s condition.  Is it weak or skinny?  Does it have any open wounds?
5. Look for any obvious identification tags or markings.
6. Determine the animal’s exact location for accurate reporting.
7. Call the local stranding hotline with as much information as you have.

1. Identification or description of animal (size, color, etc.)
2. Number of animals involved
3. Condition of animal (alive, dead, or injured)
4. Exact location and directions to the strand site
5. Names and telephone numbers of people involved
6. Date and time of your observations
7. If there are any tags on the animal

• DO NOT attempt to return the animal to sea. They are there for a reason, usually sick or injured.
• Keep people and dogs away from the animal. Only 1 or 2 persons are needed until expert help arrives. Additional people will only add more stress to the dolphin or whale.
• If the animal is in the surf, support it upright and keep water out of the blowhole at all times.
• Keep the animal cool and wet by splashing water on the skin. Avoid getting water into the blowhole.
• Apply wet towels or t-shirts and provide shade if possible using tarps or towels. Keep the blowhole free of obstructions and take care not to cover any of its fins or tail.
• DO NOT apply suntan oil. If available, apply zinc oxide to the fins and tail. The dolphin’s skin is very sensitive and will sunburn severely.
• Be careful around the extremely powerful tail.

• DO NOT attempt to remove the animal or return it to the water. Seals and Sea Lions temporarily haul out on land to rest or dry out. Mothers briefly leave their pups while at sea.
• Observe the animal from a distance of at least 50 feet. Note the condition of the animal. Any obvious injuries? Is it bleeding? Wet or dry? Any markings or tags? Do not attempt to feed the animal.
• Do not pour water on beached Seals or Sea Lions. They are prone to respiratory diseases and wetting them down often adds to their suffering.
• Do not touch a stranded Seal or Sea Lion! Even though they appear friendly, they can inflict severe bites.  They may also carry diseases communicable to humans.
• Control your pets.  Keep people away! They could injure or be injured by a Seal or Sea Lion.
• Determine the animal’s exact location! If we can’t locate the animal, we can’t help it. How far and in what direction from a town, river, jetty, seawall, mile marker or highway callbox

• Move the turtle above the high water line.
• Cover the animal with dry seaweed to prevent the wind from causing hypothermia.
• Mark the covered turtle with a gaudy piece of flotsam or jetsam, perhaps a buoy or anything unusual, so that rescuers will easily find the animal.
• Do not put it back into the water – doing so will condemn the animal to almost certain death.
• Do not remove the animal from the beach – a special license is required to transport federally protected species.

• Don’t touch it or try to catch it – it’s illegal, and sea otters can bite.
• Don’t pick up an otter pup that seems to be alone in the water – its mother is probably diving for food nearby.
• Keep people and pets away from the otter.
• Don’t wrap a stranded otter in a blanket – it will overheat very quickly.
• Wildlife rehabilitation specialists will come and determine whether the otter needs help.  If it does, they will capture it and take it in for care.
• Remember, sea otters are wild animals and can deliver a severe bite!

All Marine Mammals protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act & the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Only authorized wildlife rehabilitators—like the agencies on this list—are allowed to catch or move them.

• USA
• SEA OTTER STRANDINGS IN CALIFORNIA
• INTERNATIONAL

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ALABAMA

NMFS Southeast USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

Alabama Stranding Hotline
888-767-3657

NOAA Stranding Hotline
888-806-1674

ALASKA

NMFS Alaska Stranding Hotline
877-925-7773

NMFS Anchorage Office
Anchorage
907-271-5006

NMFS Alaska Regional Office
Juneau
907-586-7235

Alaska Sea Otter and Stellar Sea Lion Commission
Old Harbor
907-286-2377

Alaska SeaLife Center 
Seward
907-224-6395

Alaska Whale Foundation
Operates from boat – May through September
360-808-0579

^Top of USA List
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CALIFORNIA

Download the California Whale Entanglement Team (W.E.T.) Response and Reporting Card

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Northcoast Marine Mammal Center
Crescent City
707-465-6265

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Northcoast Marine Mammal Center
Crescent City
707-465-6265

Humboldt State University
Arcata
707-826-4872

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

California Wildlife Center (live strandings)
Malibu
818-591-9453 or 310-458-9453

Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur (live strandings)
San Pedro
310-548-5677

Marine Animal Rescue (formerly Whale Rescue Team)
El Segundo
Emergencies - 800-39-WHALE, non-emergencies – 310-455-2729

Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (dead animals only)
Los Angeles
213-763-3400

Long Beach Animal Care Services (live strandings)
Long Beach
562-570-7387 

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
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MARIN COUNTY

Marine Mammal Center
Sausalito
415-289-7325

California Academy of Sciences (dead animals only)
San Francisco 
415-379-5381

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Humboldt State University
Arcata
707-826-4872

Marine Mammal Center
Sausalito
415-289-7325

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

MONTEREY COUNTY

UC Long Marine Lab
Santa Cruz
During business hours – 831-459-2883, after hours – 831-212-1272

Marine Mammal Center
Moss Landing
831-633-6298

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Moss Landing
831-771-4422

Monterey Bay Aquarium (sea otter 24-hour emergency line)
Monterey
831-648-4840

Monterey County SPCA (dead or alive sea otters)
Salinas
831-373-2631

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

ORANGE COUNTY

Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Laguna Beach
949-494-3050

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
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SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Sea World (live strandings)
San Diego
800-541-7325

NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center (dead animals only)
La Jolla
858-546-7162

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
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SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY

Marine Mammal Center
Sausalito
415-289-7325

California Academy of Sciences (dead animals only)
San Francisco 
415-379-5381

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

Marine Mammal Center
Morro Bay
805-771-6298

Monterey Bay Aquarium (sea otter 24-hour emergency line)
Monterey
831-648-4840

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
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SAN MATEO COUNTY

Marine Mammal Center
Sausalito
415-289-7325

California Academy of Sciences (dead animals only)
San Francisco 
415-379-5381

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

Marine Mammal Center
Santa Barbara
805-687-3255

Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (live strandings)
Goleta
805-567-1505

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (dead animals only)
Santa Barbara
805-682-4711

Monterey Bay Aquarium (sea otter 24-hour emergency line)
Monterey
831-648-4840

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

UC Long Marine Lab
Santa Cruz
During business hours – 831-459-2883, after hours – 831-212-1272

Marine Mammal Center
Moss Landing
831-633-6298

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Moss Landing
831-771-4422

Monterey Bay Aquarium (sea otter 24-hour emergency line)
Monterey
831-648-4840

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

SONOMA COUNTY

Marine Mammal Center
Sausalito
415-289-7325

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

VENTURA COUNTY

Marine Mammal Center
Santa Barbara
805-687-3255

Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (live strandings)
Goleta
805-567-1505

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (dead animals only)
Santa Barbara
805-682-4711

Whale Entanglement Team
877-SOS-WHALE

NMFS Southwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline
877-UCD-OWCN

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

CONNECTICUT

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

Mystic Aquarium
860-572-5955, option 1

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

DELAWARE

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

MERR Institute
Nassau
302-228-5029

FLORIDA

NMFS Southeast USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

Florida Stranding Hotline
888-767-3922

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
888-404-3922           

Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute (Brevard and Volusia counties only)
321-821-3030

GEORGIA

NMFS Southeast USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

Georgia Stranding Hotline
912-269-7587 or 912-264-7218

NMFS Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

^Top of USA List
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HAWAII

Pacific Islands Region Marine Mammal Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
888-256-9840

NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office
Honolulu
808-944-2269

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
Kihei
808-879-2818

University of Hawaii
Hilo
808-756-5961

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

LOUISIANA

NMFS Southeast USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

Louisiana Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
504-235-3005

NMFS Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

MAINE

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline
800-532-9551

Maine Department of Marine Resources
207-633-9500

Allied Whale, College of the Atlantic
Bar Harbor
207-288-5644

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

MARYLAND

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Oxford
800-628-9944

National Aquarium/Marine Animal Rescue Program
Baltimore
410-373-0083

MASSACHUSETTS

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

NMFS Northeast Region, Protected Resources Division
978-281-9300

NMFS Protected Species Branch
508-495-2000

New England Aquarium
Boston
617-973-5247

The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation
Boston
631-369-9829 – 24 hour rescue hotline

International Fund for Animal Welfare, Marine Mammal Rescue Program
(formerly known as the Cape Cod Stranding Network)
508-743-9548, Email: strandings@ifaw.org

The Whale Center of New England
Gloucester
978-281-6351

^Top of USA List
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MISSISSIPPI

NMFS Southeast USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

NOAA Stranding Hotline
888-806-1674

NMFS Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
Gulfport
888-767-3657

^Top of USA List
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NEW HAMPSHIRE

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

New England Aquarium
Boston
617-973-5247

NEW JERSEY

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

Marine Mammal Stranding Center
Brigantine
609-266-0538

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

NEW YORK

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation
Riverhead
631-369-9829 – 24 hour rescue hotline

NORTH CAROLINA

NMFS Southeast USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

NMFS Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

Marine Mammal Stranding Program
University of North Carolina
Wilmington
910-254-5713 or (910) 962-7266

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

OREGON

NMFS Northwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

NMFS Northwest Regional Office, Protected Resources Division
206-526-6733

Oregon Coast Stranding Coordinator
541-867-0446

Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Oregon State University
Newport
541-270-6830

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

RHODE ISLAND

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

Mystic Aquarium
860-572-5955, option 1

SOUTH CAROLINA

NMFS Southeast USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Stranding Hotline
800-922-5431

TEXAS

NMFS Southeast USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Galveston
800-9MAMMAL

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

VIRGINIA

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

Virginia Marine Science Museum
Virginia Beach
757-437-6159

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

WASHINGTON

NMFS Northwest USA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
800-853-1964

NMFS Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator
206-526-6733

Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Marine Mammal Investigations Unit
253-589-7235

National Marine Mammal Laboratory
Seattle
866-ORCA-NET
http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/NMML/

Seattle Animal Control
Seattle
206-386-4258

Cascadia Research Collective (for large whales)
Olympia
360-943-7325 or 800-747-7329

East Jefferson County Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Port Townsend
360-385-5582 x103

Makah Reservation
360-645-3160
or after office hours 9-5, use following number:
360-640-0959

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Port Angeles
360-457-6622, option 6

Olympic Coast National Park
Port Angeles
360-565-3115

Olympic Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Association
Joyce
360-928-0230

San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, The Whale Museum
Friday Harbor
360-378-4710 or 800-562-8832

Whatcom County Sheriff Marine Unit
Bellingham
360-966-8845

Wolftown Rehabilitation
Vashon Island
206-463-9113

WASHINGTON D.C.

NOAA Northeast USA Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
866-755-6622

Smithsonian Institute
Museum of Natural History
202-633-2664

^Top of USA List
^Top of Stranding Page

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Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey
831-648-4840 (sea otter 24-hour emergency line)

Marine Mammal Center
Sausalito
415-289-7325

Please report sightings in California of oiled otters, seabirds and other animals to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network Response Hotline: 877-823-6926.

Call Dr. Melissa Miller at 831-469-1746 for all scientific inquiries and dead sea otter related issues.  Call Jack Ames at 831-469-1740 for any California oil spill response and field problems.

If you find a Sea Otter you think is ill or abandoned follow these steps:

1. Don’t touch it or try to catch it – it’s illegal, and sea otters can bite.
2. Don’t pick up an otter pup that seems to be alone in the water – its mother is probably diving for food nearby.
3. Keep people and pets away from the otter.
4. Don’t wrap a stranded otter in a blanket – it will overheat very quickly.
5. Wildlife rehabilitation specialists will come and determine whether the otter needs help.  If it does, they will capture it and take it in for care.
6. Remember, sea otters are wild animals and can deliver a severe bite!

^Top of Stranding Page

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AMERICAN SAMOA

Pacific Islands Region Marine Mammal Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
888-256-9840

ARGENTINA

Fundacion Mundo Marino
Buenos Aires
02252 43-0300

AUSTRALIA

Australia Marine Mammal Rescue and Research
Sydney, New South Wales
61 02 9415 3333

RSPCA Marine Rescue Unit
Lonsdale, South Australia
08 8382 0888

Wildlife Victoria
Fitzroy, Victoria
13 000 94535

Whale Strandings Hotline - Tasmania only
0427 942 537

BRAZIL

International Wildlife Coalition Imbituba
55 48 255 2922

^Top of International List
^Top of Stranding Page

CANADA

Marine Mammal Research Group
British Columbia
800-665-5939

Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
British Columbia
800-465-4336

Marine Mammal Rehabilitation
British Columbia
604-862-1647

Vancouver Aquarium
British Columbia
604-258-7325

Marine Animal Response Society
Nova Scotia
866-567-6277

ENGLAND

British Divers Marine Life Rescue
01825 765546

Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
0300 1234 999

^Top of International List
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FRANCE

Centre de Recherche sur les Mammiferes Marins
La Rochelle
05 46 44 99 10

Groupe d’Etude des Cetaces du Contentin et des Mammiferes de la Manche
Cherbourg-Octeville
02 33 10 22 50

Oceanopolis Marine Mammal Laboratory
Brest
02 98 344052

Picardie Nature
06 08 83 44 99

GERMANY

Seehundstation Friedrichskoog
04854 / 13 72

Seehundstation Norddeich
49 0 4931 89 19

GREECE

MOm Monk Seal Rehabilitation Centre
210-5222888

Archelon Sea Turtle Rescue Center
+30 210 52 31 342

^Top of International List
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GUAM

Pacific Islands Region Marine Mammal Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
888-256-9840

NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office
Honolulu, Hawaii
808-944-2269

HONG KONG

Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society
(852) 2866 2652

IRELAND

Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
087-6328106

ISRAEL

Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center
050 6241663, 052 3571193, or 050 8226280

MAURITIUS

Mauritian Wildlife Foundation
230 697 6097

MEXICO

Red de Varamientos de Yucatan
Merida, Yucatan
999 946 5558

Investigacion y Conservacion de Mamiferos Marinos de Ensenada (ICMME)
Ensenada, Baja California
646 161 98 39 or 646 197 53 29

^Top of International List
^Top of Stranding Page

NETHERLANDS

Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre Lenie’t Hart
Pieterburen
0595 526 526

EcoMare Wadden and North Sea Centre
0222 317741

NEW ZEALAND

Department of Conservation
0800 362 468 – 24 hour emergency stranding line

Project Jonah
0800 4 WHALE

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

Pacific Islands Region Marine Mammal Stranding & Entanglement Hotline
888-256-9840

NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office
Honolulu, Hawaii
808-944-2269

PERU

Organizacion Cientifica para Conservacion de Animales Acuaticos
511 99938-9430 or 511 99164-5586

PHILIPPINES

Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network
For whales and dolphins:
      Ocean Adventure
       (047) 252 9000
For dugongs:
      Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB)
      (02) 924 6031 to 35
      (02) 925 8946

^Top of International List
^Top of Stranding Page

POLAND

Hel Marine Station
58 675 08 36

PUERTO RICO

NMFS Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

SCOTLAND

Scottish Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
03000 999 999

British Divers Marine Life Rescue
01825 765546

SOUTH AFRICA

Cape of Good Hope SPCA
021 700 4158, 021 700 4159, emergencies - 083 326 1604

SPAIN

Fundacion Aspro Natura
Canary Islands
General emergency hotline – 112

TURKEY

Turkish Marine Research Foundation
90 216 424 07 72

US VIRGIN ISLANDS

NMFS Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
877-433-8299

US Virgin Islands Stranding Hotline
Frederiksted
340-713-2422

WALES

Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 
0300 1234 999

British Divers Marine Life Rescue
01825 765546

^Top of International List
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