Stranded whales given antibiotic treatment

Rio Vista, Calif. -- Animal experts in California have injected antibiotics into a pair of injured and disoriented whales in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

While the exact cause of the animals' injuries has not been confirmed, experts decided to give the humpback whales an antibiotic injection to stop their wounds from worsening in the delta's fresh water, the San Francisco Chronicle said Sunday.

Saturday's medical treatment of the whales marked the first time that such animals have received antibiotics while still in the wild.

Numerous attempts have been made to lure the mammals back into San Francisco Bay, but without success thus far.

On Friday, local authorities met with limited success leading the animals by spraying them with water and intend to use that technique again after the holiday weekend.

The Chronicle said the whales have fallen into the pattern of swimming in circles inside of the delta, but never going under the Rio Vista Bridge.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.