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21 May 2011
Last updated at 05:12 ET
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Rescue team leader Alasdair Jack says some of the whales have serious head injuries
Marine experts are continuing to monitor more than 60 pilot whales to try to prevent a mass stranding.
The whales were first spotted near Loch Carnan, off South Uist in the Western Isles, on Thursday afternoon.
Rescuers monitored the whales overnight and hope they will recover their ability to navigate and head back out to sea.
However, there are concerns after about 20 in the pod were seen with injuries to their heads.
It is thought the injuries may have been caused by the whales' attempts to strand themselves on the rocky foreshore of the sea loch.
Pilot whales normally prefer deep water but come inshore in search of squid, which is their main food source.
Last week a pilot whale died after getting stuck in the Sullom Voe in Shetland.
The Scottish SPCA said it did not look like any more whales had broken away from the big pod but added that there was a large coastline to search.
Inflatable pontoons Sick and injured whales are thought to beach themselves to die.
However, at times, dying whales have been followed to shore by healthy animals.
Conservationists have also suggested the whales may have got lost.
Rescuers were putting inflatable pontoons in place for refloating any whales which become stranded.
On Friday, the pod was seen moving back and forth from the shore and rescuers said the animals were "very vocal", which may be a sign of distress.
Members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue have been at the scene.
In October a pod of pilot whales were in danger in the same sea loch.
Days later, 33 whales, thought to be the same group, were discovered dead on a beach in County Donegal.
Pilot whales can grow up to about 20ft (6.1m) and are among the most common marine mammals.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Rescue team leader Alasdair Jack says some of the whales have serious head injuries
Marine experts are continuing to monitor more than 60 pilot whales to try to prevent a mass stranding.
The whales were first spotted near Loch Carnan, off South Uist in the Western Isles, on Thursday afternoon.
Rescuers monitored the whales overnight and hope they will recover their ability to navigate and head back out to sea.
However, there are concerns after about 20 in the pod were seen with injuries to their heads.
It is thought the injuries may have been caused by the whales' attempts to strand themselves on the rocky foreshore of the sea loch.
Pilot whales normally prefer deep water but come inshore in search of squid, which is their main food source.
Last week a pilot whale died after getting stuck in the Sullom Voe in Shetland.
The Scottish SPCA said it did not look like any more whales had broken away from the big pod but added that there was a large coastline to search.
Inflatable pontoons Sick and injured whales are thought to beach themselves to die.
However, at times, dying whales have been followed to shore by healthy animals.
Conservationists have also suggested the whales may have got lost.
Rescuers were putting inflatable pontoons in place for refloating any whales which become stranded.
On Friday, the pod was seen moving back and forth from the shore and rescuers said the animals were "very vocal", which may be a sign of distress.
Members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue have been at the scene.
In October a pod of pilot whales were in danger in the same sea loch.
Days later, 33 whales, thought to be the same group, were discovered dead on a beach in County Donegal.
Pilot whales can grow up to about 20ft (6.1m) and are among the most common marine mammals.
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