Whale Experts Prepare For Capturing Orphaned Orca

Whale Experts Prepare For Capturing Orphaned Orca

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Story Published: Jun 10, 2002 at 9:03 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 12:42 AM PDT

By Tracy Vedder

PUGET SOUND - Just as that orphaned orca whale is becoming more of a danger to boaters and herself, the National Marine Fisheries Service is firming up plans for a rescue. It will be the first time in 25 years that a killer whale is captured in Puget Sound.

KOMO 4 News obtained exclusive home video of the orphaned orca calf "Springer" coming up next to and rubbing alongside a pleasure boat. That shows why animal researchers and advocates want to get her out of the waters around Vashon Island. The young killer whale is far too comfortable around humans and boats, and eventually someone -- either boaters or the whale herself -- will get hurt.

So this Thursday, a team of whale experts, led by the man who headed up the Keiko team, will capture Springer. The first time anyone's caught a killer whale in Puget Sound since the mid-70's.

"Right now we have a real veterinary concern," says Fred Felleman with Orca Conservancy.

Whale advocates, biologists and veterinarians have worried about Springer's health for months, ever since she showed up alone, out of her element in January.

She has a persistent skin disease, and foul-smelling breath, which may indicate other health problems.

When the rescue team captures Springer Thursday, she'll be taken by barge to a temporary net pen off the Kitsap Peninsula for medical attention. She could be there at least two weeks.

"Killer whales are pretty resilient little critters," says Felleman, "and I think, like the ocean, if you don't kick it while it's down, it'll respond."

But who's paying for Springer's rescue? Originally the National Marine Fisheries Service thought it could cost a half a million dollars.

A consortium of seven advocacy groups including Earth Island Institute, Orca Conservancy and the American Cetacean Society are working together to begin raising money.

"We don't know how long she's gonna have to ultimately stay here," says Orca Conservancy's Felleman. "We're hoping no more than two weeks but these animals take their vitamins in gallons not in ounces."

Ultimately the rescuers plan to take Springer back to Canada to reunite with her orca family. But NMFS admits, all of these plans really rely on Springer herself. Capturing a wild animal -- particularly a young orca -- is risky business.

The orca advocates have set up a fund to help pay for Springer's rescue. It's the "Orphaned Orca Fund" set up at Islanders Bank in Friday Harbor.

The address is P.O. Box 909, Friday Harbor, Washington, 98250.

KOMO 4 News will have live coverage of the orca rescue this Thursday. Please join us for this unprecedented event.

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