KEY LARGO, Fla., May 8 (UPI) -- Marine rescue personnel say they returned two stranded adult male pilot whales to the Atlantic Ocean about 9 miles from the Florida coast.
The two whales were part of a pod of at least 21 that stranded Thursday, The Miami Herald reported Sunday. Rescuers said the two whales released Saturday were in "robust" condition.
"It was just amazing," said Suzy Roebling, a staff member with the non-profit Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo.
She said the two whales were seen swimming away, side-by-side. Roebling said their chance of survival is good, and that rescuers are now trying to save five remaining survivors, a male and four females.
They "are not ready to go anywhere," said Dr. Christopher Dold, vice president of veterinary services at SeaWorld.
Rescuers implanted radio transmitters in the released whales' dorsal fins to track their movement.
The rescue was part of an around-the-clock effort to save the beached whales. Personnel from SeaWorld and several state and federal agencies participated in the rescue operation.
Fourteen of the beached whales died. Necropsies will be performed on them, but it may never be known why they beached, officials said.
