Plans to help a young killer whale stuck in a distant tidal lagoon off the northern coast of Vancouver Island for nearly two weeks have been changed to trying to give the young animal food.
Members of the Federal Fisheries Department rescue team say they will now watch to see if the orca calf will eat seals left at spots in the lagoon that the young killer whale is known to visit.
Paul Cottrell, the department’s Pacific region marine mammal coordinator, says the rescue team has not seen the orca calf eat anything from the lagoon, although the animal was seen with a bird in its mouth.
But he says the lagoon has lots of fish for the young orca to eat.
The orca calf has been by itself in the lagoon near Zeballos since last month after its pregnant mother got stuck on the shore at low tide and died.
Cottrell says experts on marine mammals have not yet analyzed recent drone footage to check the orca calf’s health, but it seems active and doesn't show any signs of getting worse.
Related
- Orca calf still in B.C. lagoon, jumping out of the water at regular times
- Mother orca dies on beach in Vancouver Island despite rescue attempts
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