File photo.
Biologists believed they have delivered a full dose of antibiotics to an emaciated killer whale in the waters near Vancouver Island.
Michael Millstein with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Portland, Ore. says J50 is staying close to her mother and the pod of southern resident killer whales is moving toward the mouth of the Fraser River.
Millstein says the pod is expected to continue to hunt for salmon and experts hope to administer a deworming medication to J50.
The nearly four-year-old female orca, who researchers had feared was dead after not seeing her on the weekend, was spotted with the rest of her pod in waters between Victoria and Seattle Monday morning.
The condition of the emaciated whale has been tracked by researchers on both sides of the border since early August when it was first noticed.
There are only 75 orcas left in the dwindling southern resident population.
With files from the Canadian Press
CHEK News
