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A pair of grey whales that found themselves beached Friday in Boundary Bay have begun to make their way out to deeper water.

Marine mammal rescuers spent much of Friday afternoon working to free the whales, a mother and her calf, after the two were found partially stranded near Centennial Park during a low tide.

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Dan Bate, a spokesman for Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific region, said the DFO was using reflotation equipment and a vessel to assess the situation.

As the tide returned, the whales were eventually able to move by themselves, and now it would appear that they are out of danger.

The DFO’s marine mammal rescue team remains at the scene, keeping an eye on the animals as they reorient themselves, and ensuring they don’t re-strand themselves.

Bate urged curious onlookers to keep their distance while rescuers work.

“We would like to encourage the public to stay at least 100 metres away to ensure public safety,” Bate said.

Vancouver Aquarium spokeswoman Deana Lancaster said a team from their Marine Mammal Rescue Centre headed to Boundary Bay to help the DFO.

News 1130’s traffic team filmed the stranded whales around 4 p.m.