Whales head back toward sea, then linger

Benicia, Calif. -- Two injured and disoriented whales that were swimming back toward the sea Sunday changed course again Monday and were lingering near Benicia, Calif.

The whales have been lost in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta for at least two weeks, and efforts to coax them back into San Francisco Bay have, so far, been unsuccessful.

Animal experts injected the mother humpback and her calf with antibiotics Saturday to stop their wounds from growing worse in the fresh water of the delta.

The whales swam 25 miles toward the sea Sunday and appeared to have swum under the Benicia Bridge Monday morning. But then they reversed course in the afternoon and lingered north of the bridge, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Authorities hoped the befuddled whales would swim against the tide during the afternoon and make further progress toward the bay, the newspaper said.

Veterinarians planned to administer another dose of antibiotics to the whales.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.