Rescued whales seen heading for deeper water

**bb1** Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:39 am

This sad story was unfolding yesterday:

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Fife/article/24704/teams-checking-on-rescued-whales-as-operation-to-dispose-of-dead-begins.html

Teams checking on rescued whales as operation to dispose of dead begins
The pilot whales rescued after a mass beaching in Fife at the weekend are being monitored to check they don't return to shore.

Rescued whales seen heading for deeper water PA_whales_03

Rescued whales seen heading for deeper water PA_whales_03

There's better news this morning:

http://news.stv.tv/tayside/188312-rescued-pilot-whales-monitored-to-make-sure-they-do-not-beach-again/

Rescued pilot whales spotted off Leith coast as they head for deeper water

[video]

A group of whales which were rescued after becoming stranded on a Fife beach have been seen off the coast at Leith as they head for deeper water.

Fife Coastguard were called to the beach near Anstruther at around 7am on Sunday when almost 30 pilot whales were spotted on the sands.

Thirteen had already died when the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) arrived. Another three died despite more than 30 volunteers from the BDMLR trying to keep the animals wet.

At around 4.30pm on Sunday, ten of the whales were re-floated in the water when the tide came in.

At 9pm, the pod had left the harbour. One had found it hard to keep upright but was supported by the other whales until it balanced.

The group all swam out to open water and are being monitored to make sure they head towards deeper water.

Alistair Jack from the BDMLR said: "The whales were spotted by the Harbour Master at Leith at 7.45am this morning. They were just off the docks but they have found deeper water.

"We're not 100% sure where they are now and we are asking the public to keep a close eye out for them and let us know if they see them. It might take a couple of days for them to sort themselves out.

"It's been a very traumatic experience for them. I don't know if they grieve or not but they have lost a lot of their family. But fingers crossed that they will keep heading out to sea."

Post-mortems will be carried out on the beached whales on Monday to try and work out why they came ashore. The council will then remove the carcasses.

Experts believe the whales might have come ashore in a group because of their social behaviour.

Pilot whales will not leave a wounded or sick member of their school, and it is thought that the animals might have followed one such whale onto the shore and become stranded.

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Let's hope some good comes out of this hearbreaking event, and humans know more about why water mammals do this sometimes.