By Devin Rodriguez
Tampa Bay Times
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Firefighters and aquarium workers rescued two pygmy killer whales that were found stranded Wednesday on Sand Key, according to Clearwater Fire & Rescue.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium workers called the fire department for help with the whales at about 10 a.m. Rescue crews carried the whales to a truck that took them to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota for treatment.
https://www.facebook.com/clwfire/videos/1942863889090109/
It was unclear when, or if, the whales would be released back into the gulf. Their medical conditions were not released Wednesday.
At first, rescuers thought the stranded mammals were melon-headed whales. But officials later clarified that, identifying them as pygmy killer whales — which, in fact, are not whales at all.
They are actually rare oceanic dolphins.
Copyright 2018 Tampa Bay Times