30 pilot whales stranded in Florida

People gather in the water around stranded pilot whales.

People gather in the water around stranded pilot whales.

Published Dec 4, 2013

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Washington - About 30 pilot whales were stuck in shallow waters Wednesday off Everglades National Park, according to Florida media reports. At least four died among nine whales that beached themselves overnight, The Miami Herald reported. The others were freed alive and returned to the pod, which remained in danger. “The water is really shallow, and they haven't been able to swim back to sea,” Everglades park spokesperson Linda Friar told the newspaper. “We're working right now to try to get them out, but it could take some time.” Personnel from the National Park Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration rushed to the scene after the wayward, short-finned whales were spotted on Tuesday. “This is something this particular species does, but there's no clear reason why,” Friar said. “They even tend to rebeach themselves after they've been freed.”

Sapa-dpa

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