Biologists and researchers spent the entire day Friday trying to figure out what caused 25 pilot whales to beach themselves and die.
We tracked down the two boaters who first spotted the whales along Kice Island.
It was an unforgettable scene.
"I had a hard time going to sleep last night. It was going through my mind," said Marco Island resident Amelia Tripp.
For Amelia and Bill Tripp heart wrenching is an understatement.
"It's just a tragedy. We just have to find out what's going on," said Amelia Tripp.
Part-time residents on Marco Island, the pair were the first to spot the pod of whales stranded along Kice Island on Thursday; with buzzards circling the sky.
"Yes, I knew something was dead," said Amelia Tripp.
This is just the latest stranding in Southwest Florida this week.
On Friday, more than 20 researchers and biologists scattered the island to take samples of the carcasses - trying to figure out what cause them to get sick.
"It's very sad. You just feel like they're hopeless. They tried whatever they could do to survive," said Captain Dan Mercier with Sea Tow.
Biologists say sonar is not a factor after they Navy said they aren't doing any testing locally.
Biologists are doing their own testing to see if the whales had Moribilli virus. The virus has played a role with previous whale strandings in the past.
Biologists say the virus has killed hundreds of pilot whales up and down the east coast of the U.S.
The dead whales found in December near the Everglades did not test positive for Moribilli virus. However, researchers will still be testing these 25 whales.
The results of those tests can take weeks to get back - while necropsy results can take months.
Even then, there may not be an answer.
"Not always. I mean sometimes you take the tissues and you collect all the information, but sometimes it's a dead end. You don't know what, you don't have an explanation," said NOAA researcher Laura Dias.
According to Mote Marine officials, 25 whales died including 16 females and nine males. One of the whales was pregnant.
The whales will be left on scene to let nature takes it's course.
Officials are working with Rookery Bay and law enforcement to keep people away from the dead mammals.
It is a federal offense to disturb a carcass.
Source: WorldNow and WBBH
