Killer whale rescue team puts boats back in lagoon in effort to entice calf to ocean
CTV
A flotilla of up to 10 vessels, taking advantage of the best tidal flows in days, was on the waters of a remote lagoon off northern Vancouver Island Thursday in an effort to coax a young killer whale back to the open ocean, but 'a successful outcome is not guaranteed.'
A flotilla of up to 10 vessels, taking advantage of the best tidal flows in days, was on the waters of a remote lagoon off northern Vancouver Island Thursday in an effort to coax a young killer whale back to the open ocean, but “a successful outcome is not guaranteed.”
Six days of efforts to entice a two-year-old orca calf out of the lagoon and back to the ocean following the death of its mother last weekend have included the use of recorded killer whale calls, specialized directional guide lines and the pounding of Indigenous drum beats, but with no success.
“This afternoon, Thursday, March 28, represents the best present opportunity for the whale calf to exit the lagoon as tides are not optimal over the next few days with the water becoming increasingly shallow,” said a federal Fisheries Department statement. “Water levels are anticipated to improve after the weekend.”
Rescue officials said earlier the tidal window at Little Espinosa Inlet is brief, just 30 minutes, which would allow the calf to swim out safely.
“The department would like to reiterate that this operation is highly complex, is unfolding in challenging weather, and in difficult geographic conditions,” said the statement. “A successful outcome is not guaranteed.”
Ehattesaht First Nation Chief Simon John said his people, who have deep spiritual and cultural connections to killer whales, are united in their goal of having the orca calf reunited with its extended family.
“It's hard to know what people are thinking when they watch the news and see us working here,” he said in a statement. “All we know it that it is very hard and really emotional. This is day six and we know that time is short and there is a lot of pressure.”