Orca calf kʷiisaḥiʔis leaves B.C. lagoon

After over a month of being stuck in a lagoon on Vancouver Island, an orca calf is now back in the open water.

According to the Ehattesaht Nation, kʷiisaḥiʔis “swam past the sand bar her mother passed away on, under the bridge, down Little Espinosa Inlet and onto Esperanza all on her own” around 2:30 a.m. Friday, at high tide.

Mass efforts to free the calf, named Brave Little Hunter, from the lagoon near Zabellos had been ongoing, though unsuccessful.

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kʷiisaḥiʔis’ big escape came after an evening of feeding, swimming, and playing, the Nation says.

“And after most everyone had left to get some sleep the small group who remained stood as witnesses to watch her swim under the bridge and down the inlet,” the Ehattesaht said in a release Friday morning.

The Nation says members will now encourage the calf “out toward the open ocean,” with the hopes her family will hear her calls and that they can be reunited.

Martin Haulena, the executive director at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society, says it was remarkable to be a part of the rescue effort, and his team is overjoyed that the orca is free.

“Folks really, really wanted to make sure they were doing the best they possibly could for this whale,” said Haulena.

While she’s no longer caught in the lagoon, the Ehattesaht says the work is not done.

“We are now in a new phase and while the Team is ecstatic there will be increased patrols and protective measures taken to ensure that she has no contact with boats or people. The Nations and DFO will be asking everyone to keep well clear of the area and kʷiisaḥiʔis in particular,” Ehattesaht leadership explained.

“With this part of the challenged solved by kʷiisaḥiʔis herself, every opportunity needs to be afforded to have her back with her family with as little human interaction as possible.”

Haulena says the calf’s family group does come around the Zabellos area frequently. He’s hopeful that she’ll be in the right place at the right time to meet them. Alternatively, Haulena says, it is possible she will get adopted by another group of transient whales.

kʷiisaḥiʔis and her mom got into the lagoon by swimming through a narrow and fast-moving channel connecting it to the ocean.

According to Ehattesaht Chief Simon John, a community member came knocking for support, to try and get the mother “upright and out of danger.”

“We started organizing, basically immediately, to get people out there,” he recalled in an update at the end of March.

“By the time it all happened, I think the tide was at its lowest point and I think it had already been over six hours,” John continued. “The whale … tried to move and get back into the water as the tide came in, but when the tide came in, the whale actually started to suffocate.”

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John explained even through the night, the mother whale had aspirated the contents in her stomach, contributing to her condition. The whale was pregnant at the time of her death, with officials saying that likely played a role in her inability to stay upright.

“Ehattesaht and Indigenous people across Canada are writing new stories in these modern times reinforcing the presence of a deep connection between the spirit world, the animal world and the people who have remained on the land and waters for all time. Events like these have a deeper meaning and the timing of her departure will be thought about, talked about and felt for generations to come,” the Nation said Friday, following kʷiisaḥiʔis’ departure.

Haulena says there is still more work to do.

“She still has to navigate some challenging water to get into open water and connect with similar animals,” he said.

“That’s going to be the next big hurtle.”

Haulena says the calf would naturally still be very dependent on her mother for survival and may have difficulty being accepted by another pod, since she was fed by humans from a boat to lure her out of the lagoon.

“The biggest risk is that she’s not connected with other killer whales, and she relies on people and she starts associating food with humans, and unfortunately in the past, that hasn’t worked out too well,” he said.

But that doesn’t mean all is lost.

“Even if a parent is gone, other orcas could adopt her and teach her to hunt,” he said.

With the calf now a global sensation, making headlines around the world, lots of people are hoping the calf makes it.

“Everyone wants what is best for this little whale, so it’s a really positive story so far,” Haulena said.

With files from Angela Bower.