Ehattesaht First Nation ‘very concerned’ about orphaned orca contacting boats

The ordeals of a young orca named kwiisaḥiʔis, or “Brave Little Hunter,” continue after it freed itself from a lagoon south of Zeballos, though it remains in an inlet just shy of the open ocean.

In a press release from the Ehattesaht First Nation on Thursday, members said they are now concerned after finding out about reports of some interactions with vessels in the area.

In the release from the office of Chief Simon John, it notes that “right from start, the Nation has been concerned over the Brave Little Hunter being habituated and this factored heavily into all planning.”

The Nation is confident that the orca will still be able to survive on its own despite the help she received from humans during the roughly four weeks she was trapped in the lagoon. Chief John adds that they’ve heard the orca has been chasing otters in order to survive.

Despite the Nation’s confidence in the orca, after having discussions with Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Marine Mammal Response Unit, the Ehattesaht First Nation and the Marine Mammal Research Unit (MMRU) will be increasing patrols in the area by boat, drone and helicopter to prevent contact with kwiisaḥiʔis by boaters.

The Nation and the DFO are asking boaters that are travelling through the area to remember there is a small orca around. The plea adds that if someone does see the orca to change course to avoid her. Do not stop to watch her and under no circumstances should anyone engage with the wild animal.

The appromxietly two-year-old orca spent more than one month in the lagoon after it followed its mother into the area on March 23. Its mother died shortly after, and the orca calf did not leave the lagoon until April 26, when it swam into Espinosa Inlet.

All observation rules can be found here.

READ PREVIOUS:

• 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

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