Florida: Pilot whales swimming on their own
After 22 pilot whales were stranded over the weekend, five are still living. Though they still appear stressed, experts hope to take the surviving whales to complete their recovery at SeaWorld Orlando.
In this photo provided by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, people attend to one of five rescued pilot whales Sunday at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Institute in Fort Pierce, Fla. One of the five died unexpectedly on Monday.
AP Photo/SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
MIAMI
Experts say they're cautiously optimistic about five pilot whales that were part of a pod of 22 stranded on a Florida beach.
Two male and three female juvenile whales are being treated Monday at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Institute.
Experts at FAU say the whales are showing signs of stress from the stranding Saturday, but the marine mammals are swimming on their own.
The rest of their pod died or had to be euthanized. It was unclear why the whales became stranded at Avalon State Park in St. Lucie County.
The experts hope to eventually continue the whales' rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando.