Orca's ocean escape from B.C. lagoon will be talked about for generations, says First Nation

An orphaned killer whale calf's escape from a remote Vancouver Island tidal lagoon, where it had been trapped for more than a month, is likely to reverberate for First Nations in Canada, according to those involved in the rescue.

The orca has been the focus of intense rescue efforts since March 23, when her pregnant mother became stranded on a rocky beach and died near the bridge in the small inlet next to the community of Zeballos, B.C., more than 450 kilometres northwest of Victoria. 

The calf, named kʷiisaḥiʔis or Brave Little Hunter by First Nations, chose a "clear and glass-calm, star-filled night" at about 2:30 a.m. PT to swim under a bridge and down the inlet, according to a joint statement from the Ehattesaht and Nuchatlaht First Nations. 

"It's been a joyful day, a really joyful day," Ehattesaht First Nation Chief Simon John said at a news conference. "I'm very ecstatic how things happened today. There was a lot of anticipation for this moment for the past five weeks."

The young orca's behaviour changed almost at the moment she passed under the bridge and headed for the open ocean, said Paul Cottrell, a marine mammal co-ordinator with the Fisheries Department.

"We were just amazed at how quickly … the behaviour of this animal changed when it went from the shallow inlets, where it was restricted, to these wide-open inlets that are very deep," he said.

"Her behaviour, her acoustics changed. She actually sped away from the boat and moved into Esperanza Inlet and really took off from the group."

Cottrell, who has been in Zeballos since last month working with area First Nations on a rescue plan, said he's confident the young orca will survive and find family.

"It was just a great feeling knowing we've given her a great chance," he said. "Now it's up to her and we're very confident that she will meet up with her pod."

Cottrell, who has worked on numerous whale rescues off B.C.'s coast, described Friday's events as "one of the best experiences" of his life.

The orca calf, estimated to be about two years old, was seen breaching and playing near the bridge end of the lagoon for much of Thursday evening, but only a few people were there to witness her escape as she swam under the bridge, John said in an interview.

"My daughter Ashley was there," said John. "She was really happy. It was like 3 [a.m.] in the morning by the time she had actually gone to the other side and they went to meet her on the other side in the Zodiac."

Four members of the Ehattesaht and the neighbouring Nuchatlaht First Nation — Rob John, Judea Smith, Victoria Wells and Ashley John — were in a small inflatable vessel Thursday night and early Friday and managed to entice the killer whale calf to exit the lagoon by tossing her sea lion meat.

Cottrell said there were concerns that the young whale could strand itself on the same rocky beach where her mother died during low tide, but the orca swam toward the bridge and left the lagoon.