The Latest on efforts to keep a group of pilot whales from beaching themselves in Georgia (all times local):3:20 p.m.A state biologist in Georgia says dozens of pilot whales appear to be heading back to sea a day after many of them came perilously close to swimming ashore and beaching themselves. He says conservationists following the whales counted at least 45 and he's "cautiously optimistic" they will keep moving away from the coast. Three whales became stranded and died when the pod appeared Tuesday off the beach of St. Simons Island. George says pilot whales typically keep about 100 miles (160 kilometers) off the Georgia coast. ———10:45 a.m.A state biologist says beachgoers in Georgia helped keep about 30 pilot whales from stranding themselves on the shore.

Source: ABC News July 17, 2019 16:59 UTC