Stranded killer whales make their way to the sea in Russia

(Reuters) – A family of killer whales stranded in a muddy estuary in Russia’s Far East have made their way to the open sea after researchers guided them to deeper water, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said on Friday.

The four animals, two adults and two calves, became stranded in the estuary of the Kamchatka Peninsula this week and researchers and volunteers had to douse them with water at one point to prevent them from dying.

After an unsuccessful rescue attempt in which they missed the narrow exit during high tide, the orcas managed to escape the river mouth on Friday, the ministry said on the messaging app Telegram, where it also posted videos of the rescue operation.

Orcas, or killer whales, belong to the suborder of toothed whales, but are also the largest member of the dolphin family, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Michael Perry)