On Tuesday, July 6, police received a report at about 8 a.m. of 12 whales stranded in the coastal waters of Toumen Prot, Linhai City in east China's Zhejiang Province. 

Three of them perished before the rescue team arrived. Two were released the same day at 9 p.m. back into deep water after an operation lasting several hours and the rest sent to a local aquarium for observation. 

Six more whales were released on the evening of July 7 based on expert analysis of the test data and consideration of the rescue environment. However, two of these whales were found dead on the way to the deep ocean on July 8.

The remaining one is in a poor condition and continues to be observed and treated.

As of 5:30 a.m., July 9, the last melon-headed whale remained critically ill with signs of serious dehydration, gastrointestinal bleeding and heavy breathing.

Read more: Knowing about whales: Why do whales beach themselves?

(Cover image via VCG)

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