Vancouver Islandsa国际传媒檚 Ehattesaht First Nation is asking people to stay as far away as possible from kwiisa岣蕯is to give her the sa国际传媒渂est possible chancesa国际传媒� to reunite with her family, says Ehattesaht Chief Simon John.
The Nation is concerned that kwiisa岣蕯is sa国际传媒� the orca calf who spent a month stuck in the Little Espinosa Inlet Lagoon after her mother died ater getting beached in March sa国际传媒� has encountered boats since she swam out of the inlet earlier this week.
The Nation and DFO have been monitoring the calf since she swam out of the inlet on Sunday, and have heard reports of interactions with vessels in the area.
sa国际传媒淩ight from start the Nation has been concerned over the Brave Little Hunter being habituated and this factored heavily into all planning,sa国际传媒� a release from the Nation says.
The release says that during the past month, those involved in kwiisa岣蕯issa国际传媒� rescue effort have learned that young orcas are very adaptable and impressionable.
sa国际传媒淥f course, everyone was very worried about her starving,sa国际传媒� Chief Simon John said in a press release. sa国际传媒淲hen she first took the seal meat offered to her there was a mixture of relief that she wouldnsa国际传媒檛 starve but also worry that she would be associating boats with food. When she was seen eating herring, something the Biggs adult whales do not do, we were happy because that meant she would not be dependent on being fed and more likely than not she had learned to feed herself along the way.sa国际传媒�
That means they are confident she can survive on her own.
sa国际传媒淲e have even heard she is chasing sea otters. We also know she is in the best possible location now; itsa国际传媒檚 a natural and known area, she can hear and be heard by her family as they pass by,sa国际传媒� Chief John said. sa国际传媒淭he most important issue now is that she be left alone. No matter how interesting or connected we may feel, being with humans is exactly the wrong thing for kwiisa岣蕯is.sa国际传媒�
Ehattesaht and the DFO Marine Mammal Response Unit will be increasing boat patrols in the area, and will be using drones and helicopters to try to prevent kwiisa岣蕯issa国际传媒� contact with boaters.
sa国际传媒淚f you are travelling through the area please remember there is a small orca. If you do see her change your course to avoid her. Do not stop to watch her. Under no circumstances are you to engage with her,sa国际传媒� he said.
DFO has rules in place to prevent interactions between humans and whales. Biggsa国际传媒檚 killer whales are Threatened under the Species at Risk Act, and the rules in place require everyone to keep at least 200 metres away from killer whales.
sa国际传媒淭his would be the barest minimum that we would hope for to give kwiisa岣蕯is the best possible chance. We have all worked so hard for her and we cannot let up now.sa国际传媒�
The full rules can be found online .
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