A Whale Of A Dilemma
Alone now off Vashon Island for several months, she's the focus of a political battle between researchers who say leave her alone and government officials who say capturing her may be necessary to save her life.
Now, Fred Felleman with the Orca Conservancy says the latest pictures show a whale that is doing just fine. Felleman says the still images, taken from video shot on March 7, indicate to him that capture and an aquarium shouldn't even be considered right now.
"We think it's absolutely essential that before any heroic activities are taken that we need to have at least a week's worth of good baseline data," said Felleman.
And that's exactly what will happen. Researchers tell KOMO 4 News they have agreed with National Marine Fisheries to monitor the whale together over the next two weeks. The research may include both observation and medical tests. Researchers say that only then will the decision be made either to intervene or let A73 and mother nature chart their own course. Researchers will begin this latest round of observations as early as possible.
"That doesn't mean she's in the right place," said Felleman. "She's a B.C. whale, she's in U.S. waters, and I don't think she's got a visa," he joked.
What he means is that even if the whale is determined to be healthy an effort may still be made to return the whale to its pod in Canadian waters.
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