VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 26 (UPI) -- Marine biologists in Vancouver have little optimism for the survival of a weak 3-year-old gray whale that beached itself and later floated free.
The whale was stranded Monday on sandy tidal flats in Boundary Bay near the town of Tsawwassen, about 20 miles south of Vancouver.
Off-duty Delta firefighters ran a hose from a hydrant to spray cold water on the whale, while workers with the Vancouver Aquarium put a canopy over it to ward off the sun's rays and covered its tail with towels to keep it cool and wet.
When high tide came, the whale was able to return to deeper waters, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., reported.
However, aquarium spokesman Dr. David Huff said the whale probably beached itself because it no longer had enough strength to swim and gave it little chance of surviving.
"She hasn't eaten in a long time," he said. "They get their water from their food, so she would absolutely become dehydrated."
