IFAW rushes urgent support for vulnerable puffins after devastating floods in France

Thousands of puffins rescued along France’s Atlantic coast 

In the weeks following the storms along France’s Atlantic coast, thousands of puffins washed ashore exhausted and severely malnourished. 

In total, 2,500 puffins stranded between Bordeaux and the Basque Country were rescued and treated by three wildlife care centres in southwest France. Puffins are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, making every rescue meaningful for the future of the species. 

Emergency stabilisation centre supports wildlife hospitals 

To respond quickly to the surge of stranded seabirds, IFAW released emergency funds to the Réseau Centres De Soins Faune Sauvage to establish an emergency stabilisation centre directly on the coast. The network deployed a team of 12 volunteer caregivers, trainers, and veterinarians from wildlife care centres across France, who set up a triage and stabilisation station at a rescue post provided by the Capbreton town hall. 

This temporary centre allowed rescuers to stabilise the birds for several days before transporting them to rehabilitation facilities. Providing care close to where the birds were found helped limit mortality during transport and reduced pressure on already busy wildlife hospitals managing the influx of stranded animals. 

Specialised care helps puffins recover 

When the puffins arrived at the stabilisation centre, many were cold, weak, and dehydrated after struggling through severe conditions at sea. Care teams first focused on warming the birds and rehydrating them for 24 to 48 hours. Once their condition improved, veterinarians gradually reintroduced food through a feeding tube before transitioning the puffins back to solid fish. 

After stabilisation, the birds were transported to three authorised wildlife care centres—Hegalaldia, Paloume, and LPO Aquitaine—where rehabilitation continued. Specialists carefully washed each puffin using established protocols to restore the waterproofing of their feathers, which is essential for seabirds that depend on fully functional plumage to survive in the ocean. The birds were then placed in rehabilitation pools where they could rebuild their strength and natural behaviours before returning to the wild. 

Puffins return to the ocean 

After weeks of care, the rescued puffins began returning to the ocean. The final group of rehabilitated puffins was released on Sunday, 15 March, marking an encouraging milestone after a large-scale rescue effort coordinated by wildlife care centres, volunteers, local authorities, and IFAW supporters.