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Rescue: Watch the story of how scientists and Florida beachgoers saved five stranded whales

Footage shows volunteers teaming up with experts to help the whales.
 
With whales kept underneath tents in order to stay cool, dozens gather at Redington Beach in response to five whales found stranded on the beach earlier morning on Monday, July 29, 2019 in Redington Beach. ANGELIQUE HERRING   |   Times
With whales kept underneath tents in order to stay cool, dozens gather at Redington Beach in response to five whales found stranded on the beach earlier morning on Monday, July 29, 2019 in Redington Beach. ANGELIQUE HERRING | Times
Published Aug. 8, 2019|Updated Aug. 9, 2019

It started, as so many emergencies do, with a 911 call.

A worried beachgoer reported seeing whales splashing in the shallows of the Gulf of Mexico on Redington Beach and spouting through their blowholes.

Five pilot whales stranded themselves and needed help immediately.

Why do Pilot whales beach themselves?

Video by: DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD & ANGELIQUE HERRING Video editing by: TRACEE STOCKWELL, Tampa Bay Times

Related: RELATED STORY: Hundreds of volunteers help save five whales stranded off Florida beach

A small army of volunteers swung into action alongside marine biologists and veterinarians.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Coast Guard officers and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were all involved.

Marine biologists and veterinarians from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, alongside Coast Guard officers and volunteer beachgoers tend to one of five pilot whales that beached themselves just off the shore. Monday, July 29, 2019 in Redington Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Marine biologists and veterinarians from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, alongside Coast Guard officers and volunteer beachgoers carry one of five pilot whales from the water Monday, July 29, 2019 in Redington Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Marine biologists and veterinarians from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, alongside Coast Guard officers and volunteer beachgoers carry one of five pilot whales from the water Monday, July 29, 2019 in Redington Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Everyone working together to carry one of five pilot whales from the water Monday, July 29, 2019 in Redington Beach. ANGELIQUE HERRING | Times

Once experts determined the whales were healthy enough to move, the humans teamed up, hefting each one in a canvas sling, more than a dozen people per whale.

Video by: DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD Video editing by: TRACEE STOCKWELL, Tampa Bay Times

Related: RELATED STORY: One day after being rescued from shallow waters, five pilot whales show signs of recovery

The three larger whales were taken to deeper, safer waters by boat. The effort lasted 10 hours.

Video by: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The two younger males, simply called A and B, were driven to a Clearwater Marine Aquarium facility in Tarpon Springs for treatment.

Watch two of the five be released into the Gulf of Mexico.

Video by: Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Audio by: DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD Video editing by: TRACEE STOCKWELL, Tampa Bay Times

By late last week, A and B were well enough to be released, taken 20 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico. And by that time, the three older whales had already swum nearly 70 miles southwest. Radio tags will monitor their movements for several weeks.

The three larger whales were taken to deeper, safer waters by boat. When the two younger males were well enough to be released, they were taken 20 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico. And by that time, the three older whales had already swum nearly 70 miles southwest. Radio tags will monitor their movements for several weeks. Satellite-linked tags and tracking services provided by NOAA John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant.

Whale beachings are rare, and usually don’t end well. This one apparently has. “Collaboration really works,” Clearwater Marine Aquarium CEO David Yates told reporters at a news conference. “The community really got involved in this. One group can’t do this the right way by themselves.”