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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Beached whales drama in S Africa | Beached whales drama in S Africa |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| South African rescue teams have managed to return to the water 20 pilot whales which beached near Cape Town but others have had to be put down. | South African rescue teams have managed to return to the water 20 pilot whales which beached near Cape Town but others have had to be put down. |
| Bulldozers were used to try to push the 55 adults and calves back into the water as high winds and waves hampered the rescue operation. | Bulldozers were used to try to push the 55 adults and calves back into the water as high winds and waves hampered the rescue operation. |
| The whales, about 3m (10ft) long, are common to the waters off South Africa. | The whales, about 3m (10ft) long, are common to the waters off South Africa. |
| It is unclear how the mammals became stranded and some which were returned to the water swam back to the beach. | It is unclear how the mammals became stranded and some which were returned to the water swam back to the beach. |
| Craig Lambinon, a spokesman for the National Sea Rescue Institute, told Reuters news agency that he could not say how many whales would have to be killed. | Craig Lambinon, a spokesman for the National Sea Rescue Institute, told Reuters news agency that he could not say how many whales would have to be killed. |
| Those who could not be saved were being shot humanely in the head. | Those who could not be saved were being shot humanely in the head. |
| It was the first mass beaching of whales Mr Lambinon had seen on the popular beach at Kommetjie, near Cape Point. | |
| "As soon as we put them back into the sea, they swim back to the beach again," he said earlier. | "As soon as we put them back into the sea, they swim back to the beach again," he said earlier. |
| Rough seas also pushed some whales back ashore. | Rough seas also pushed some whales back ashore. |
| Volunteer helpers and onlookers flocked to the area, blocking the main approach road, reports say. | Volunteer helpers and onlookers flocked to the area, blocking the main approach road, reports say. |