This is ORRCA! A little about who we are...

Australia is a country familiar with whale strandings. ORRCA works with the New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change and other government agencies at these events.  Effective rescue procedures took quite a long while to perfect. Even by the mid 1980s few animals could be saved. However Australia now has  a leading role in the development of whale rescue techniques and has an excellent success record at mass strandings. ORRCA is leading the way in  developing more effective ways to rescue whales and other marine mammals.

ORRCA is  the most experienced and successful whale rescue organisation in Australia.

Every year ORRCA trains many members of government agencies (including the Department of Environment Climate Change and Water) and ORRCA Members in marine mammal rescue.

ORRCA is also involved with the protection and welfare of seals, sea lions, dolphins and dugongs. Every year ORRCA volunteers spend many hours protecting hauled out seals and monitoring other marine mammals. We also work with Government Authorities and other groups with marine mammal rehabilitation and release. ORRCA's input is also sought when legislative bodies are amending existing laws or introducing new ones.

We assist with, monitor, and give advice on  marine animal entanglements.

ORRCA members receive a quarterly newsletter 'Flippers and Flukes'. This  keeps members up to date with the latest in best practices and procedures from Australia and around the world. We also encourage our members to tell  stories of their experiences with marine wildlife.

We have active research programs to better understand the problems that marine mammals encounter and to discover possible solutions and favourable outcomes. Our research includes necropsies, bone recoveries, skeletal exhumations, whale migration and behaviour monitoring and observations, as well as ongoing investigations in other areas.

Public education is another of our activities. We are always willing to share our knowledge as we are there for all.

Everyone in ORRCA is a volunteer. ORRCA is the only wildlife carers group in New South Wales licensed to be involved with marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation and release. Our members come from all walks of life, age groups and nationalities. We operate as a non-profit organisation and have charity status.

Most importantly ORRCA operates a 24 hour / 7- day- a- week Marine Mammal Hotline. This telephone Hotline is staffed by volunteers and keeps ORRCA members, Government Authorities and interested members of the public informed of marine mammal emergencies, incidents and sightings. These incidents are not only in New South Wales but often in other states or even other countries.

ORRCA receives limited Government funding and grants but otherwise relies on income from memberships, donations and workshops  to keep the hotline and the organisation functioning.

ORRCA membership is open to all and your enquiries are welcome at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phoning the ORRCA Hotline on (+61 2) 9415 3333.