4 dolphins saved after beaching in Oman

• Tweet

SAWADI, Oman, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Marine environmentalists in northern Oman have managed to guide four beached false killer whales back to sea, officials said.

About 12 false killer whales, which belong to the dolphin family, but look similar to killer whales, were found beached near the town of Sawadi on Wednesday, Gulf News reported.

"So far we estimate about a dozen animals were stranded," said marine scientist Andrew Wilson, a member of the Renaissance Whale and Dolphin Research Team at the Environment Society of Oman. "We found that four of the beached dolphins had already died."

A rescue team escorted four of the animals back to sea Wednesday.

Wilson said necropsies have been performed on the four dead animals, and that very little food remains were found in their stomachs.

"There were some very old remains of fish," he said.

"We have taken samples of liver and kidney to investigate the reasons behind the dolphins becoming stranded," Wilson said.

The rescue operation continued Thursday.