March 24, 2009

should the RSPCA euthanize stranded whales?

Speakers:
Dr Paul Jepson, Senior Research Fellow, Insitute of Zoology
Adam Grogan, Wildlife Scientist, RSPCA
Tony Woodley, Inspector, RSPCA

Recent research shows that helping stranded whales may simply prolong their suffering; as a result, the RSPCA is proposing that stranded whales, such as that which swam up the Thames in 2006, should be euthanised as a matter of course. Experts from the RSPCA and the Institute of Zoology came to the SMC to talk about the research and explain the reasoning behind the proposal.