Rescue of B.C. orca calf could involve helicopter airlift

A new rescue effort will hopefully soon be underway to rescue an orphaned orca calf in a remote area off northern Vancouver Island.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said the plan could include placing the two-year-old calf into a sling, lifting it out of the lagoon by helicopter and putting it in a holding net pen in the ocean until the calf’s family pod can be seen nearby.

Reports say the rescue effort will take place in the next few weeks.

5:01 How AI technology could help reunite an orphaned orca with its pod

The whale’s mother, who was also pregnant at the time, died after hunting a seal and becoming trapped in shallow water near the Vancouver Island community of Zeballos on March 23.

Ehattesaht First Nation Chief Simon John says other attempts to entice the young whale to leave the lagoon have not been successful and the nation wants to take every opportunity available to save its life.

1:02 Plan in place to rescue orphaned orca

Rescuers have been trying to lure the calf out of the lagoon by playing sounds or vocalizations from other Bigg’s Killer Whales, also known as transient whales.

However, it has not been successful and rescuers were becoming worried the calf would not survive if it could not leave the area.

— with files from The Canadian Press

1:15 AI being used in effort to reunite orphaned orca calf with pod

• AI being used in effort to reunite orphaned orca calf with pod
• Uncertain fate for young orca stranded on Vancouver Island
• Efforts continue to rescue orphaned orca calf
• Efforts continue to free orca calf from Vancouver Island lagoon
• Race to reuninte orphaned orca calf with its pod
• Vancouver Island community mourning dead orca, trying to unite calf with pod
• Vancouver Island community unable to save stranded orca

Previous Video

Next Video