The CRRU taskforce is comprised of an elite team of cetologists and veterinarians based in Gardenstown, near Banff. As a professional outfit, the team are committed to the welfare of whales and dolphins that become stranded along the Scottish coastline, and are available 24 hrs a day to act and advise at the scene of a live stranding with professional veterinary treatment, refloatation and rescue procedures as required.

As with most emergency situations involving animals, speed of response to a whale and dolphin stranding is of the utmost importance. Once the stranded animal has been reached and its condition assessed, however, a decision making process needs to be followed to ensure the correct choices for the welfare of the animal are made. A lack of information leads to one of two unacceptable situations: the first is where a potential candidate for refloatation is euthanased; the second, and arguably more serious, is if an animal that should have been euthanased is released and later dies at sea, causing potentially greater suffering. In this respect, the CRRU veterinary team aim to ensure that the treatment of sick, injured or stranded marine mammals along our coastlines is carried out to the very highest standards.

As part of this remit, the CRRU is committed to ensuring that all individuals assisting in this work are trained as fully as possible, particularly veterinarians assisting in the decision making process. Liaising with the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), Scottish SPCA, HM Coastguard, and other local and national animal welfare organisations, the organisation is therefore available to direct this response with dedicated lectures, courses and practical demonstrations upon request.