‘All contingencies’ on the table in race to save orca calf stranded on B.C. coast

A rescue team working to coax a stranded killer whale calf from a lagoon off northern Vancouver Island is prepared to change tactics to save its life, including the possibility of lifting the orca out to the open ocean, says a Fisheries Department marine mammal co-ordinator.

A rescue team working to coax a stranded killer whale calf from a lagoon off northern Vancouver Island is prepared to change tactics to save its life, including the possibility of lifting the orca out to the open ocean, says a Fisheries Department marine mammal coordinator.

Paul Cottrell said Wednesday that all contingencies will be considered over the coming days after efforts by a team of experts and First Nations members failed to get the two-year-old to leave the lagoon.

He said they won’t rule out placing the orca in a sling-type device and hoisting it to the open ocean.

“We are thinking beyond if we have to change tactics, depending on the calf’s health going forward,” said Cottrell at a news conference with Ehattesaht First Nation Chief Simon John in Zeballos, located more than 450 kilometres north of Victoria.

Several attempts have been made to get the calf to leave the area after its pregnant mother died in the lagoon Saturday when she was stranded by the low tide.

Attempts to use recorded killer whale vocalizations to convince the calf to leave the lagoon have not been successful.

“We’re looking at all contingencies and contingencies later on,” said Cottrell. “As you can imagine, this is a very short time window we have, so we’re having to look at all those options and think ahead in case we have to look at those later options, which is in progress for sure.”

John said he expects rescue team members will resume their efforts Thursday to help the calf into the open ocean, where it’s hoped it will reunite with family members.