725-Pound Pilot Whale Returns To Open Water

CLEARWATER, FL — A 725-pound pilot whale who managed to beach herself in Dixie County on July 1 is back in open water thanks to the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Joshua Appleby. “Gale,” as the distressed whale was named, was returned to water about 140 miles west of Clearwater on Tuesday.

While the coast guard gets the credit for Gale’s release, the creature’s rescue occurred shortly after beach goers discovered her on July 1. Those witnesses contacted authorities, who called out rescue teams from the University of Florida and Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Gale was then packaged up and taken to SeaWorld Orlando for medical assistance.

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Once in Orlando, Gale was given around-the-clock care with the goal of nursing her back to health for an eventual release back into the wild. Within a day of arrival, SeaWorld officials said Gale was eating fish again and began to show signs of improvement.

As Gale grew stronger, SeaWorld worked with NOAA to make arrangements for her eventual release. The decision was made to take her to the spot off Clearwater’s coast because it is a known pilot whale habitat, SeaWorld explained in a media release. Pilot whales prefer deep water and are highly social animals that travel in pods. The release spot was selected because it is hoped to give Gale a good chance to join up with other pilot whales in the wild, SeaWorld officials explained.

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Since the release was a complicated one, the coast guard was called in to help, SeaWorld reported. The release evidently went swimmingly well.

“We all watched her strongly swim away,” Dr. Lara Croft, a veterinarian at SeaWorld Orlando, said in a statement. Croft was with Gale throughout her recovery and return to the wild.

"This story has been a true collaboration and we worked together with many dedicated partners," Croft said. "We are proud to be a part of this rescue, rehabilitation and successful release. This truly is why we all do what we do.”

Before her release, Gale was tagged with a satellite-linked transmitter so researchers can follow her movements over the next few months.

Pilot whales are technically members of the dolphin family. The short-finned species is found across the globe in warmer waters, such as those found in the Gulf of Mexico.

U.S. Coast Guard photos by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse.