An aquatic mammal rescue device and method includes an array of suction cup lifters that adapt to contact and adhere to the body of an aquatic mammal on land or at the surface of water. The array is lifted to raise the aquatic mammal from the ground or water for transport. The rescue device may be part of a vehicle capable of land, sea, and/or air travel or it may be movable by attachment to a separate vehicle of other lifting mechanism (e.g., crane). The device may be used to transport a beached mammal (e.g., a whale) back to the water or to a treatment facility. It may also be used to take an injured animal from the wild or a tank to a treatment facility.