The orphaned calf who is stranded in a lagoon near Zeballos is now being fed seal body parts by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in order to keep it alive as rescue attempts have failed thus far.
On Saturday, March 23rd, the Bigg’s killer whale calf was being taught how to hunt by her 14-year-old mother.
However, the mother whale was beached and rolled on her side. Despite attempts to get her back into the water, she died from drowning.
The Ehattesaht and Nuchalaht First Nations named the calf kʷiisaḥiʔis (kwee-sa-hay-is)—roughly translated to Brave Little Hunter.
The DFO deployed drones to track the whale and try to get an idea of its body condition on Tuesday, April 3rd because aside from two birds the whale was observed eating, it has not been able to eat much.
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The Nuchalaht First Nation attempted to supplement the whale’s diet by feeding it seal meat, however the DFO say it is unclear if kʷiisaḥiʔis ate any of it.
A team is closely reviewing drone footage to determine if the seal meat was eaten by the calf.
Strategic Natural Resources Consulting, an Ehattesaht-owned company, has been providing the high-tech equipment to this operation, including the waterproof drones being used to monitor the whale calf.
The involved parties still plan on taking advantage of weather and tidal conditions when they are ideal to get kʷiisaḥiʔis out of the lagoon and reunite her with her family.
Over the weekend, the DFO say nearby whale watchers observed the T041s and the T109As—one of these pods is the calf’s matriline, the other is extended family.
More information will be provided by the DFO as the situation continues to unfold.
