Zeballos, British Columbia – The rescue operation for a killer whale calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold because it is believed to be the first time it has started eating seal meat thrown into the water.
Ehattesaht First Nation Chief Simon John said the young killer whale swam to an area of the lagoon where members of the nearby Nuchatlaht First Nation dumped about 18 kilograms of seal meat into the water on Thursday night.
They witnessed her grabbing chunks from its mouth and diving below the surface. Video of the encounter was posted on Facebook.
“It’s really joyful,” John said of the orcas eating seal meat. “That’s what she needed. This is the first time we’ve confirmed that. Of course, it gives us more comfort.”
Veterinarians have been closely monitoring the two-year-old whale for any signs of ill health and watching to see if she feeds in the lagoon, 450 kilometers northwest of Victoria.
She has been stranded alone for four weeks, ever since her mother ran aground at low tide and died.
Rescuers’ initial attempts on Friday to corral the 700kg orca so it could be taken to the open sea failed as it refused to leave the depths of the lagoon.
John said the young orcas decided to eat seal meat, a favorite food of Bigger’s orcas, which may give the rescue team more time to prepare for another rescue attempt.
“We’re looking at maybe a week,” he said, adding that First Nations would continue to try to feed the whales. “I think now is a good time to take a break.”
Fisheries Department marine mammal coordinator Paul Cottrell said whale feeding gives rescue teams more options and time.
“We’re really glad this is happening,” he said. “This is all good news. We’re really happy.”
He said rescue teams may now pursue a “carrot option” by using seal meat as an attractant to lure the orcas into the shallow waters of the lagoon, perhaps even from under a bridge that leads to the open ocean.
“It really depends on how our female calves respond,” Cottrell said. “That makes us optimistic.
He said rescue teams were preparing to deploy on Friday but were put on hold after the calf ate the seal meat.
Cottrell said health issues in calves, particularly changes in body condition near the blowholes, have been a concern for veterinarians.
A second rescue operation is planned for the whale after a seine boat arrived in Zeballos, B.C. “Little Hunter”.
John said Aboriginal seine crews and other rescuers from the Campbell River region were sent home on Friday after the rescue was put on hold.
Aboriginal groups say the rescue operation has been very costly for the band.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Victoria on Friday that he had ensured the Fisheries Department was engaging with the community and would continue to engage with the country.
“I think we’re all following this story very closely. It’s heartbreaking and we’re all concerned,” he said.
John said he was pleased Trudeau expressed concern for the young orcas and supported the rescue effort.
“I’m really grateful to the prime minister,” he said.
He did not elaborate on the cost of the relief effort or the state’s decision to launch a “Go Fund Me” campaign to help pay for it.
Video of the feeding posted on Facebook showed young orcas surfacing and circling near the coast while someone shouted “hello kwiisahi? is, hi kwiisahi? is”.
When a piece of meat splashes into the water, the whale quickly scoops it up from the surface and dives back into the water.
“She gets it! Good girl,” one observer said.
In the second scene, the whale eats a piece of meat floating on the water.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 19, 2024.
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Image Source : www.cp24.com