2 pilot whales dead, 2 euthanized after beaching themselves in southwest Florida (USA)

A pilot whale is stranded in the News Pass area on Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, in Lee County, Fla. Two pilot whales died and a third would be euthanized after roughly four dozen whales swam into shallow waters off southwest Florida on Monday, wildlife officials said. MAGS OUT; NAPLES OUT; Photo: Andrew West, AP

January 20^th, 2014. FORT MYERS BEACH, FLA. –  Two pilot whales have died and two were euthanized after they beached themselves in southwest Florida.

Kim Amendola of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service said the mammals were among a group of about four dozen whales that swam into shallow waters Sunday and Monday.

NOAA regional stranding coordinator Blair Mase said necropsies would be performed on the dead whales. She said the surviving whales were listless and emaciated.

In Lee County, a handful of the mammals were stranded near shore, while more than a dozen others were seen swimming nearby. Yet another dozen were spotted farther offshore.

Amendola said roughly two dozen other pilot whales were being monitored off Collier County.

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