ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.-Wednesday update:Wildlifebiologists are monitoring a pod of whales that beached themselves in St. Simons Island Tuesday.
Georgia's Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday morning that they will be working the with National Marine Mammal Foundation to monitor the pod.
A spokesperson said crews will be out there all day. Two whales that didn't survive were moved this morning to the Altama Wildlife Management Area for necropsies.
- Dozens of beachgoers rescued dozens of beached whales on Tuesday in St. Simons Island, Action News Jax has confirmed.
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources tells Action News Jax several Pilot whales were beached on St. Simons Island. DNR said two of the whales didn’t make it.
- Video was captured Tuesday afternoon as several whales were beached near East Beach. In the video you could see dozens of people out there trying to help – splashing water onto the whales and trying to push them back into the water.
- A Spokesperson with DNR said these kinds of whales travel in packs. He said they are very friendly and social. So, when one falls behind, they won’t leave them. They’ll stay until the other comes back.
- Two whales died Tuesday night. DNR said they don’t appear to be hurt, but possibly sick. They will be taken to Wild Management on Wednesday morning for an autopsy. The other whales at last check were spotted between Jekyl and St. Simons Island.
- It’s still unclear why the whales were beached. Action News Jax asked DNR when was the last time something like this has happened, and we were told since the 80’s.