After weeks of rescue attempts, a killer whale calf trapped in a Vancouver Island tidal lagoon has been freed. Rescuers luring the orca - nicknamed 'Brave Little Hunter' with seal meat at high tide and it is now in open water.

Zeballos

After weeks of concerted rescue efforts, a young killer whale that was trapped in a Vancouver Island tidal lagoon has successfully been freed. The rescue team employed a novel method to save the orca calf, affectionately nicknamed 'Brave Little Hunter', by using seal meat to lure her out of the lagoon at high tide. The operation allowed her to navigate past the obstacle that had kept her confined and return to the open water.

The orca, known by the Iharasat First Nation as Kwee Sahayas, had been stranded in the remote lagoon alongside its pregnant mother more than a month ago, following a tragic incident that saw the pair trapped by a low tide. The situation took a sorrowful turn when the calf's mother beached and subsequently died. Since then, the community and rescuers have tirelessly worked to maintain a connection with Kwee Sahayas, amidst growing concerns for her well-being. The young orca, who had depended on her mother for sustenance, was left stressed and grieving.

Efforts to rescue the two-year-old calf included plans ranging from capturing her in a sling to attempting to herd her out of the lagoon. Despite these challenges, Kwee Sahayas remained resilient, displaying good spirits and even breaching the water's surface hours before her successful escape. The joy of her freedom, however, is tinged with concern over reuniting her with her pod. The marine veterinarian involved in the rescue highlighted the difficulty of locating her family group, which has not been seen in over two weeks.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is collaborating with First Nations, whale watchers, and researchers in the hopes of facilitating Kwee Sahayas' reunion with her family. The collective effort aims to guide her through the open waters in search of her pod, with the hope that they might hear her calls and be reunited.



Baby killer whale freed from Vancouver tidal lagoon

Joyful news following weeks of anxiety. Social media video shared by the Iharasat First Nation shows members attempting to lure a stranded orca calf out of a remote Vancouver Island lagoon with seal meat. She's gonna go for us. Chukwa! A high tide at 2.30 a.m. helped the two-year-old clear the sandbar that had trapped her. I'm happy, I'm related. That will for her to survive has been the inspiration. The two-year-old orca, nicknamed Kwee Sahayas or Brave Little Hunter entered the lagoon with her pregnant mother just over a month ago. Then suddenly the pair were trapped by a low tide. Oh, poor girl. That's so sad. Her mother beached and died. The community gathered and tried to save her and wasn't successful so we've tried to maintain the relationship or the connection to Kwee Sahayas since then. Concern grew for the two-year-old calf. Stressed and grieving who had been relying on her mother for food. Attempted rescue operations from an elaborate plan to capture her in a sling to herding her out failed. But observers said she still appeared in good spirits. Videos showed her breaching the waters just hours before she made it out on her own. I'm really happy right now but I know that we still need to figure out how to reconnect this animal with her family group. This marine veterinarian was at the lagoon for multiple rescue attempts. He says the biggest challenge now will be finding the orca's pod. Unfortunately they haven't been seen in over two weeks and no one knows exactly where they are. At least of this morning they didn't know where they were and so it's very difficult to say how long it might take. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada says it's working with First Nations, whale watchers and researchers as they attempt to lead her to open waters and hold out hope her family hears her calls.

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