Helicopter to airlift stranded orca out of B.C. lagoon

Last edited Thu Apr 4, 2024, 01:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Plans are now underway to airlift a stranded killer whale calf out of a remote tidal lagoon off northern Vancouver Island in an effort to reunite the young orca with its extended family.

Fisheries Department and First Nations officials say the plans involve 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 while they wait for its family pod to be near for release.

The plan was agreed to Wednesday during a meeting between members of the Ehattesaht First Nation council, Fisheries Department officials and marine technical experts.

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Rescuers have been unable to coax the young whale out of the area since its pregnant mother was stranded at low tide in the lagoon and died on March 23.

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/orca-calf-to-be-fed-1.7162293

Edited to add:

IN PHOTOS | Efforts to free orphaned B.C. orca

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/photos/in-photos-efforts-to-free-orphaned-b-c-orca-1.7161982