Wildlife officials say 20 whales believed to be part of a pod found stranded in the Everglades this week were moving closer towards shore, a sign they may be reversing their earlier, positive course.
The whales, spotted yesterday afternoon, were about five nautical miles (10 kilometres) from the coast, 1.6 kilometres closer than Thursday.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stranding coordinator Blair Mase says the animals appeared to be less organised and swimming slowly.
The development raises concerns the whales could be sick or becoming exhausted from the stranding.
Officials had been hopeful the whales were headed back to their deeper, colder waters after they were spotted moving offshore Thursday.
The pod originally included 51 whales. Eleven have died. Several others remain unaccounted for.
