"Eleven rarely seen oceanic dolphins - also known as pygmy killer whales - washed ashore at Haikou Beach in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, with four confirmed dead. Footage from Tuesday shows rescue services pouring water on the dolphins to cool them down and monitoring their vital signs. The surviving whales can then be seen being released back into the sea, while the dead are transported away. "For this rescue operation, the 8th Patrol Area Command and the 6th Coast Guard Corps dispatched 11 vehicles and 26 personnel," a coast guard said. "Currently, rescue efforts and security controls are being carried out for the seven surviving whales to prevent onlookers from startling them or causing secondary injuries through improper contact," he added. According to local media, residents discovered the pod at around 7:00 local time on Tuesday, and authorities were notified shortly afterwards. The beach area was cordoned off to prevent onlookers from disturbing the animals or causing further injury. Pygmy killer whales are a rarely encountered species of dolphin, as they are seldom found near the coast. Throughout their range, they prefer deep, warm waters, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation."