Orca pod spotted in vicinity of orphan B.C. killer whale, but no evidence of family

A reported sighting of an orca pod off Vancouver Island near where an orphan killer whale is spending her time after escaping from a lagoon has an expert expressing caution and downplaying a possible family reunion.

A confirmed sighting of a pod of nine orcas was reported Monday near Kyuquot Sound, about 80 kilometres southeast of Zeballos, near the inlet where the two-year-old calf has been seen.

This is the first official report of orcas near the female calf since late March, when a pod of her relatives among the Bigg’s killer whales was spotted south of Ucluelet.

Marine scientist Jared Towers says the pod has not yet been identified as possible family members of the orphan killer whale calf and the distance is too far for her calls to be heard.

The calf named kwiisahi?is had been trapped since March in a tidal lagoon near Zeballos, located more than 450 kilometres northwest of Victoria, after her pregnant mother became stranded on a rocky beach and died.

The orphan calf eluded several rescue attempts then swam out on her own to an open inlet last month.

READ PREVIOUS:

• MAY 2: Ehattesaht First Nation ‘very concerned’ about orphaned orca contacting boats
• APRIL 27: ‘Very optimistic’: Officials say it’s very likely orphaned calf will find old or new family
• APRIL 26: Trapped orca swam out of lagoon overnight into Espinosa Inlet
• APRIL 21: Whale experts confident orca calf will survive, find family if rescue plan succeeds
• APRIL 19: ‘It was joy’: Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
• APRIL 18: Ehattesaht First Nation launches GoFundMe to recoup costs of orca calf rescue efforts
• APRIL 17: B.C. woman tries to coax trapped killer calf out of tidal lagoon with her violin
• APRIL 16: U.S. killer-whale catcher has advice for B.C. rescuers — build rapport with your orca
• APRIL 15: Orphaned B.C. orca may be eating fish, vet says, as rescuers plan new strategy
• APRIL 13: B.C. rescue team regroups after little orca thwarts capture in remote lagoon
• APRIL 12: ‘Very smart’ B.C. orca calf evades rescuers, forcing switch in tactics
• APRIL 11: Tiny B.C. town rallies around killer whale calf rescue effort as time ticks away
• APRIL 10: Plan to lift B.C. orca calf out of remote lagoon still in the works
• APRIL 9: Trapped B.C. orca calf’s skin whitening, no sign of emaciation: Fisheries Department
• APRIL 5: Drone images show trapped B.C. orca calf is healthy female, Fisheries Department says
• APRIL 4: Plans to lift a B.C. orca calf out of remote lagoon aim for two-week timeline
• APRIL 3: Rescuers plan helicopter airlift of orca calf stranded in B.C. lagoon
• APRIL 2: Stranded orca calf remains in B.C. lagoon, breaching at regular intervals
• APRIL 1: Rescuers hope AI will help reunite orphaned whale with its family in B.C.
• MARCH 30: Low tide pauses efforts to save B.C. orca while rescuers plan next steps
• MARCH 29: Fisheries officials monitoring orphaned orca calf in lagoon off Vancouver Island
• MARCH 28: Killer whale rescue team puts boats back in lagoon in effort to entice calf to ocean
• MARCH 27: B.C. orca calf rescue team considers changing tactics to save stranded whale: DFO
• MARCH 26: DFO response team still trying to save orca calf near Zeballos
• MARCH 25: Baby calf still stranded near Zeballos; mother was pregnant when she died
• MARCH 24: Whale researchers and First Nations have hope for orca calf near Zeballos
• MARCH 23: ‘Really sad’: Hundreds tried to help orca that died on beach on Vancouver Island

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2024.

Editorial Policies Report an Error