Rescued pilot whale declines unexpectedly
| MIAMI
Another whale that was part of a pod of pilot whales stranded on a Florida beach has died.
The juvenile whale had been at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Institute for rehabilitation since Saturday.
Harbor Branch official Steve McCullough says the male whale died around noon Monday after unexpectedly declining. Four other juvenile pilot whales brought to the FAU facility are being treated for infections.
The whales were part of a pod of 22 that stranded Saturday at Avalon State Park. The rest of the pod died of natural causes or had to be euthanized.
Experts hope to stabilize the four surviving whales so they can continue their rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando. Eventually, they could be released back into the ocean.
