The Stranding Network

The IWDG Cetacean stranding network is an all Ireland network of IWDG volunteers who go to stranding in their area to gather data for the IWDG stranding scheme. (Species ID, body length, body condition, detailed photos, signs of illness, injury, entanglement, or lesions, sex and skin samples for DNA). The IWDG stranding scheme has been collecting data on stranded cetaceans in Ireland since 1990. 

Most of the strandings are dead animals but on occasion animals may live strand for various reasons. Some volunteers are IWDG trained live stranding responders and attend live Strandings. 

There are roles for everyone in the stranding network. Become an IWDG member today and contact our Stranding officer Stephanie at strandings@iwdg.ie to join the Stranding Network.

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Face to Face with
a beached whale

SHOP TO SUPPORT

What is causing the death of stranded dolphins ?

Through the Stranding Scheme, the IWDG have been recording an increase in stranded common dolphins during the winter, and mainly since 2011.

The Marine Institute put out a tender in 2017 to contract a study to establish the cause of death in a sample of common and striped dolphins and harbour porpoise.

The IWDG won this tender in collaboration with the Regional Vet Labs and GMIT. Here we explain how this work feeds into the IWDG Stranding Scheme.

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Pontoon Response
Rescue in case
of stranding

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Tarp Response
Rescue in case
of stranding

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