Whales rebeached, Long Beach, Simonstown, South Africa

Mar 26, 2013 | Sapa

THREE of the five pilot whales that were released into the sea on Sunday afternoon rebeached during the night, the National Sea Rescue Institute said yesterday.

SAD ENDING: A surfer walks past two of the dead pilot whales that beached on Noordhoek Beach on Sunday. PHOTO: ANTON SCHOLTZ

“The City of Cape Town … have reported that during the night three of the five whales … were found beached on Long Beach, Simonstown, at 11.30pm,” NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said in a statement.

At 2.30am yesterday, the three whales were euthanased after they were found to be in poor health.

“The False Bay coastline is being monitored by the authorities to determine if the remaining two whales may also beach,” he said.

Nineteen pilot whales beached at Noordhoek Beach on Sunday morning.

A 20th whale had managed to swim back into the surf.

Lambinon, at the time, said five of them were transported to the Simonstown naval base and taken out to sea. One of them had rebeached in Simonstown and was later taken to sea on a tugboat. Another nine whales were killed painlessly on Noordhoek beach, and another five died naturally.

Police, sea rescue and other services helped keep them alive by using sheets and water. Attempts to refloat them had failed.

sowetanlive.co.za

Fair Use: Educational