Remaining Rescued Pilot Whales Released Back Into Ocean

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — Following three days of monitoring, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has released two pilots whales back into the ocean.

The male 10- to 12-foot-long whales were released at Anclote River Park Thursday after receiving 24-hour care at the aquarium's rehabilitation center at Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs.

The whales were among a pod of five pilot whales that beached themselves on Redington Beach Monday. Three of the whales were tagged and transported back to deep water. The two whales showing the most distress were taken to the rehab center for observation.

After receiving the go-ahead from wildlife authorities, staff at the aquarium, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration transported the two whales by van to Anclote River Park where they were loaded onto a boat by a crane. They were then taken 20 miles into the Gulf to their natural habitat where biologists hope they will rejoin their pod.

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