Ehattesaht First Nation asks boats to leave orca calf alone

The Ehattesaht First Nation is warning the public to keep a safe distance from the orphaned orca who recently escaped a lagoon on Vancouver Island.

After over a month of being stuck in a lagoon near Zabellos, the orca calf named kʷiisaḥiʔis swam back into open water on April 26.

In a release Thursday, the Nation says there have since been reports of some “interactions with vessels,” which it discourages.

“The most important thing now is that she be left alone,” said the release.

The Nation reminded boaters in the area to consider changing their courses and look out for the small orca. It warned not to stop to watch her, and under no circumstances should anyone engage with her.

The concern comes from the fact that kʷiisaḥiʔis was fed seal meat from a boat while trapped in the lagoon. The Nation said at the time that they were relieved she would not starve, but worried she would begin to associate boats with food.

“We are confident that she can survive out there on her own, and we have even heard she is chasing sea otters. We also know she is in the best possible location now; it’s a natural and known area, she can hear and be heard by her family as they pass by,” the Nation added. “No matter how interesting or connected we may feel, being with humans is exactly the wrong thing for kʷiisaḥiʔis.”