A pod of false killers whales beached themselves on Saturday in Bloubergstrand.

Made up of three adults and one calf, they were eventually refloated by the public.

Since the incident, however, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has had to caution residents of Cape Town to avoid the pod after they took refuge at the V&A Waterfront yesterday morning, reports Traveller24.

The DEA was also able to determine that one of them has head injuries, which might have been the initial cause of the beaching:

“The current location is the best under the circumstances. The department hopes that the injured whale will rest and gather enough strength to go back offshore lest they re-strand,” says the department in a statement.

A small pod compared to the groups of around 40 that they are usually found in, the dolphins are known to have a strong bond, and the healthy ones usually stick around until the injured individuals heals.

Here’s what people were able to capture yesterday:

ALERT: 4 False killer whales, including a calf are currently swimming around boats at the @VandAWaterfront . 3 stranded whales were rescued from Blouberg yday. The DEA, @2OceansAquarium ,@NSRI and @CityofCT are monitoring them. Skippers encouraged not to stop near them for pics. pic.twitter.com/6B2LoBB7cR

— Environmentza (@environmentza) February 4, 2018

The DEA, alongside Two Oceans Aquarium, the National Sea Rescue Institute and the City of Cape Town, were on it. They monitored the situation advised skippers and members of the public to be amazing humans and give the animals some space:

“Since this morning, Sunday, 4 February, four false killer whales, including a calf, have reportedly been swimming inside the Port of Table Bay in the V&A Marina,” NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said.

“The department of environmental affairs – oceans and coasts (DEA) has urged boaters to give these false killer whales as wide a berth as possible when manoeuvring boats around the Marina Basin,” he said.

Let’s hope they are safe out there.

UPDATE – another false killer whale was found stranded and dead along the West Coast near Koeberg earlier today. Those details here.

[source:traveller24]