Clearwater Fire Crews Help Rescue Stranded Pygmy Killer Whales

CLEARWATER, FL -- Clearwater Fire & Rescue crews began their Wednesday morning, Aug. 29, waist deep in the ocean helping the Clearwater Marine Aquarium rescue two whales found stranded on the beach in the 1500 block of Gulf Boulevard in Sand Key.

They have been identified as pygmy killer whales, not melon-headed whales as previously reported.

According to Whale and Dolphin Conservation, little is known about this species. It is rarely seen in the wild. Despite the name, the pygmy killer whale is actually a dolphin and bears no physical resemblance to the killer whale.

The pygmy killer whale is often confused with the false killer whale and the melon-headed whale, but the pygmy killer whale has a more rounded head and flippers and a darker cape.

The presence of the rare whales near the beach was alarming to marine biologists, who fear the whales may be sick.

The aquarium asked for the Clearwater firefighters to help with the stranded whales after beach-goers spotted them and called the aquarium Wednesday morning. Firefighters spent about 90 minutes in the water helping to stabilize and monitor the vital signs of the two whales. A number of Clearwater's firefighters have undergone training at the aquarium to help with marine rescues.

Once the whales were stabilized, the firefighters helped carry them to a transport truck and the whales were taken to the Mote Marine Aquarium Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota for rehabilitation.

Biologists don't know yet if red tide may have caused the whales to become distressed and beach themselves. So far, Clearwater has escaped the effects of the deadly algae. Only low levels have been detected at Clearwater Beach.

However, Mote biologists say red tide is responsible for the deaths of 12 dolphin off the coast of Sarasota County. Experts say it's possible the false killer whales consumed fish that was contaminated with the red tide algae bloom.

Photos via Clearwater Fire & Rescue

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