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| 'Critical time' for refloated Fife pilot whales | 'Critical time' for refloated Fife pilot whales |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A group of pilot whales believed to be those refloated at a Fife beach have been seen between North and South Queensferry. | A group of pilot whales believed to be those refloated at a Fife beach have been seen between North and South Queensferry. |
| Seventeen whales died when they became stranded between Anstruther and Pittenweem on Sunday. Another was found dead on Monday off the Port of Leith. | |
| The refloated whales were seen near Deep Sea World at 15:00. | The refloated whales were seen near Deep Sea World at 15:00. |
| Marine rescuers said the next day would be critical in determining whether they become stranded again. | |
| It is hoped the pod is now heading back out to sea. | It is hoped the pod is now heading back out to sea. |
| Stephen Marsh from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue said low tide would be a critical time for the whales. | Stephen Marsh from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue said low tide would be a critical time for the whales. |
| He also said people out in boats chasing the pod and "playing around with them" were not helping rescue efforts. | He also said people out in boats chasing the pod and "playing around with them" were not helping rescue efforts. |
| He added: "The coastguard have been out ensuring that that is stopped. So we are hoping that overnight the pod may well move back out to deeper water." | He added: "The coastguard have been out ensuring that that is stopped. So we are hoping that overnight the pod may well move back out to deeper water." |
| Meanwhile the operation to remove the carcasses of the 17 dead pilot whales has been ongoing. | Meanwhile the operation to remove the carcasses of the 17 dead pilot whales has been ongoing. |
| It could take until Tuesday. Tests are being carrying out on the carcasses. | It could take until Tuesday. Tests are being carrying out on the carcasses. |
| Bob McLellan, Fife Council's head of transport and environmental services, said: "This is an incredibly awkward site as we have no direct road access and the whales are lying at the bottom of a cliff. | Bob McLellan, Fife Council's head of transport and environmental services, said: "This is an incredibly awkward site as we have no direct road access and the whales are lying at the bottom of a cliff. |
| "However to move them out to sea would be problematic due to the tides. | "However to move them out to sea would be problematic due to the tides. |
| "Arrangements are now in place to winch the whales up the cliff face into specially lined skips. A specialist contractor will then deal with the disposal of the mammals. | "Arrangements are now in place to winch the whales up the cliff face into specially lined skips. A specialist contractor will then deal with the disposal of the mammals. |
| "We're working with Sepa, the State Veterinary Service, the Coastguard and contractors to get the situation dealt with as efficiently and effectively as possible." | "We're working with Sepa, the State Veterinary Service, the Coastguard and contractors to get the situation dealt with as efficiently and effectively as possible." |
| Three calves | Three calves |
| A further 24 pilot whales, thought to be from the same pod, were spotted in shallow water about three miles away at Cellardyke. | A further 24 pilot whales, thought to be from the same pod, were spotted in shallow water about three miles away at Cellardyke. |
| They have been monitored for signs that they are in danger of stranding. | They have been monitored for signs that they are in danger of stranding. |
| The ten stranded whales were refloated on Sunday after being kept alive by vets from British Divers and Marine Life Rescue. | The ten stranded whales were refloated on Sunday after being kept alive by vets from British Divers and Marine Life Rescue. |
| The incident involved pilot whales, approximately 20ft (6m) long. | The incident involved pilot whales, approximately 20ft (6m) long. |
| Patrols have been taking place at sea and volunteers have been walking along the coastline to check no whales have become stranded again. | Patrols have been taking place at sea and volunteers have been walking along the coastline to check no whales have become stranded again. |
| Efforts will also take place to establish what caused the pod to become stranded, with vets hoping to perform post-mortem examinations on some of the dead animals. | Efforts will also take place to establish what caused the pod to become stranded, with vets hoping to perform post-mortem examinations on some of the dead animals. |
| Three of the whales that died were calves. | Three of the whales that died were calves. |
| The incident drew a large number of bystanders to the scene, prompting the coastguard to urge the public to stay away to allow rescue teams to carry out their duties. | The incident drew a large number of bystanders to the scene, prompting the coastguard to urge the public to stay away to allow rescue teams to carry out their duties. |
| Coastguard teams from St Andrews and Leven, Anstruther lifeboat, and Fife Police assisted with the incident. | Coastguard teams from St Andrews and Leven, Anstruther lifeboat, and Fife Police assisted with the incident. |