ATHENS – A Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) found stranded at Edem beach in Alimos on Friday and at a Salamina island beach on Saturday has headed off to the open sea, the “Arion” Research Center for the Rescue and Care of Cetaceans said later on the weekend day.

The local Coast Guard Patrol and the University of Thessaloniki Veterinary School have been looking after the injured cetacean, assisted by the Hellenic Navy’s unit of amphibious operations as necessary.

On Friday, the whale had been guided to the open sea and left to swim freely, following directions of a Veterinary School professor, but it ended up near the rocky beach of Selinia on Salamina, prompting concerns it cannot swim out to the deep by itself.

Veterinarian biologists and volunteers will remain in the area to ensure it does not become stranded again, while local port authorities have been notified to be on the lookout.