An orca calf that had been stranded in a remote lagoon on Vancouver Island off the west coast of Canada for over a month has finally swum to freedom. The Ehattesaht First Nation reported that the young orca, named 'Little Brave Hunter' or 'K?iisa?i?is' in their language, was traveling with her pregnant mother when they became trapped in the Zeballos lagoon. Tragically, the mother orca died on March 23 after getting stuck on a sandbar in the shallow waters.
After several unsuccessful rescue attempts, hopes were raised when the calf swam out of the lagoon on her own early Friday morning. A team from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Ehattesaht First Nation witnessed the calf breaching the water, playing, and eventually swimming under a bridge and out through an inlet during high tide at 2:30 a.m.
Following her escape, the calf was located in Espinosa Inlet and is being monitored from a distance as she moves towards Esperanza Inlet proper. The rescue teams are now focused on guiding her towards the open ocean in the hopes that her family pod will hear her calls and she can be reunited with them with minimal human interaction.
Orcas, also known as killer whales, are highly social creatures that live in family pods. Calves typically stay with their mothers for the first two years of their lives. The Ehattesaht First Nation emphasized the spiritual connection between the spirit world, the animal world, and the people who have inhabited the land and waters for generations.
While the successful departure of the stranded orca calf is a cause for celebration, the Ehattesaht First Nation has announced increased patrols and protective measures to ensure that she remains safe and has no contact with boats or people. The timing of her departure is seen as significant and will be remembered and cherished for years to come.
