Whales

The federal government has announced salmon fishery closures and mandatory speed limits in areas where southern resident killer whales forage and travel in the ongoing effort to protect the endangered species. Orca whales play in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

Speed limits, salmon fishing closures enacted to help B.C. orcas

Federal government announces restrictions in areas off southern Vancouver Island

 

Black Pearl and her 2024 calf. (Clint William/Eagle Wing Tours/PWWA
)

PHOTOS: B.C. whale watchers document first baby humpback of 2024

Hundreds of humpback whales are expected to feed in the area through fall

 

Bay Cetology executive director Jared Towers is photographed on his vessel at Zeballos, B.C., on Friday, April 19, 2024. The odds of a two-year old killer whale calf surviving in the open ocean on its own and eventually reuniting with family members remain solid if a rescue team manages to free the orca, trapped for a month in a tidal lagoon off northwest Vancouver Island, say whale experts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Rescue team optimistic orphan whale can survive and thrive once she’s freed

Stranded calf continues to eat offered seal meat as teams work to free her from B.C. lagoon

 

Deckhands from the Homalco First Nations ready a seine boat out front of the Ehattesaht First Nation’s band office in Zeballos, B.C., Thursday, April 18, 2024. The arrival of a large seine fishing vessel capable of casting a net strong enough to hold an almost 700 kilogram killer whale calf has arrived in Zeballos, B.C. to participate in the expected latest attempt to rescue a young orca stranded in a remote tidal lagoon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Orphan B.C. orca feasts on seal for first time since getting stuck

Joyful scene of calf eating meat tossed to her brings comfort, eases pressure on rescue effort

Deckhands from the Homalco First Nations ready a seine boat out front of the Ehattesaht First Nation’s band office in Zeballos, B.C., Thursday, April 18, 2024. The arrival of a large seine fishing vessel capable of casting a net strong enough to hold an almost 700 kilogram killer whale calf has arrived in Zeballos, B.C. to participate in the expected latest attempt to rescue a young orca stranded in a remote tidal lagoon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A Humpback Whale breaching the surface waters. (Marine Education and Research Society supplied photo)

Sir David Attenborough shines a global spotlight on B.C. humpback whales

On April 21, stunning and inspiring whale footage from MERS will air on BBC Earth

A Humpback Whale breaching the surface waters. (Marine Education and Research Society supplied photo)
Ehattesaht Chief Simon John uses a contour map of the Espinosa Inlet to talk about a two-year-old female orca calf stranded in a lagoon in the area where her pregnant mother died nearly four weeks ago, during a meeting at the Ehattesaht First Nation’s band office, in Zeballos, B.C., Thursday, April 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Bigger boats, more nets, people converge for new B.C. orca rescue attempt

Second attempt to help orphan get back to the open ocean could happen at any time

Ehattesaht Chief Simon John uses a contour map of the Espinosa Inlet to talk about a two-year-old female orca calf stranded in a lagoon in the area where her pregnant mother died nearly four weeks ago, during a meeting at the Ehattesaht First Nation’s band office, in Zeballos, B.C., Thursday, April 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Carol Love plays “Tennessee Whiskey” on her violin at a todal lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. The Nanaimo, B.C., woman says she is serenading a killer whale calf, hoping to entice the orca to leave the remote lagoon where she has been trapped alone for almost four weeks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. woman tempts stranded orca calf with ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ on the violin

Tidal-timed concerts at remote B.C. lagoon added to the effort to rescue orphan killer whale

Carol Love plays “Tennessee Whiskey” on her violin at a todal lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. The Nanaimo, B.C., woman says she is serenading a killer whale calf, hoping to entice the orca to leave the remote lagoon where she has been trapped alone for almost four weeks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A rescue team has stood down after an attempt yesterday was unsuccessful in capturing the two-year-old orca in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Saturday, April 13, 2024. No date yet set as experts regroup for an attempt another day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

How to make friends with a lonely whale: tips offered on B.C. orca rescue

U.S. killer-whale catcher has advice for B.C. rescuers — build rapport with your orca

A rescue team has stood down after an attempt yesterday was unsuccessful in capturing the two-year-old orca in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Saturday, April 13, 2024. No date yet set as experts regroup for an attempt another day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Fisheries Department Pacific region marine mammal co-ordinator Paul Cottrell operates a zodiac with other experts as they conduct work in an area where an orphaned two-year-old female orca calf continues to live in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The Department of Fisheries says planning for a new attempt to rescue an orca calf trapped in a Vancouver Island lagoon will be finalized in the next few days but no date has been set THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. Orca rescue team plots change of tactics as orphan feeds on fish

Planning next bid to rescue orca calf near Zeballos will take ‘few days’: Fisheries Department

Fisheries Department Pacific region marine mammal co-ordinator Paul Cottrell operates a zodiac with other experts as they conduct work in an area where an orphaned two-year-old female orca calf continues to live in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The Department of Fisheries says planning for a new attempt to rescue an orca calf trapped in a Vancouver Island lagoon will be finalized in the next few days but no date has been set THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The Ehattesaht First Nation deployed a canoe and other resources to try and rescue the orphaned orca, but were unsuccessful, at a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., Friday, April 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. rescue team regroups after little orca thwarts capture in remote lagoon

2-year-old whale has been alone in Little Espinosa Inlet since mother died 3 weeks ago

The Ehattesaht First Nation deployed a canoe and other resources to try and rescue the orphaned orca, but were unsuccessful, at a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., Friday, April 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A road block as been set up on the only road into the lagoon as a rescue attempt is underway to rescue the orphaned two-year-old female orca calf near Zeballos, B.C., on Friday, April 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Orphan orca calf evades capture, B.C. rescuers stand down to regroup

Team ‘truly humbled at the intelligence, adaptability and resilience’ after futile efforts

A road block as been set up on the only road into the lagoon as a rescue attempt is underway to rescue the orphaned two-year-old female orca calf near Zeballos, B.C., on Friday, April 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
An orphaned two-year-old female orca calf continues to live and swim in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Thursday, April 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Orphan orca calf rescue attempt underway in B.C. lagoon

Access to area blocked, officials say attempt got underway near dawn, should take much of the day

An orphaned two-year-old female orca calf continues to live and swim in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Thursday, April 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A team of about two dozen people are preparing the planned landing area for the complex rescue effort to save a female killer whale calf stranded in a remote tidal lagoon off northwest Vancouver Island. An orphaned two-year-old female orca calf continues to live and swim in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Thursday, April 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Site preparations underway as B.C. rescuers prep for orphan orca lift

Series of dry runs expected ahead of the planned rescue of stranded calf in Vancouver Island lagoon

A team of about two dozen people are preparing the planned landing area for the complex rescue effort to save a female killer whale calf stranded in a remote tidal lagoon off northwest Vancouver Island. An orphaned two-year-old female orca calf continues to live and swim in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Thursday, April 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Local resident and postmistress for Canada Post Yvonne Malanfant looks out at the village during coffee in Zeballos, B.C., on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Tiny, remote B.C. town rallies around orphaned orca, as time ticks away

‘This is where reconciliation happens on the ground’ as fully-invested town works together for rescue

Local resident and postmistress for Canada Post Yvonne Malanfant looks out at the village during coffee in Zeballos, B.C., on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Planning is underway to rescue a two-year-old female orca known as the Brave Little Hunter as lines for Hukilau, an ancient Hawaiian fishing method, is spotted along the shoreline in a shallow area of the lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Chief says B.C. orphan orca calf rescue attempt is 4 or 5 days away

Testing and preparation continue as work progresses near remote Vancouver Island village

Planning is underway to rescue a two-year-old female orca known as the Brave Little Hunter as lines for Hukilau, an ancient Hawaiian fishing method, is spotted along the shoreline in a shallow area of the lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A female orphaned two-year-old orca calf known as kwiisahi?is or Brave Little Hunter, a name given by the Ehattesaht First Nation, continues to live in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Stranded orphan B.C. orca calf’s calls ‘make you almost weep’

Members of Ehattesaht First Nation form close bond as rescue efforts continue

A female orphaned two-year-old orca calf known as kwiisahi?is or Brave Little Hunter, a name given by the Ehattesaht First Nation, continues to live in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
An orphaned killer whale calf stranded in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C. swims in this April 2024 handout drone photo. The young killer whale stranded in the lagoon off Vancouver Island is a girl. A statement from the Fisheries Department on Friday says drone images have determined that the calf given the First Nation name Kiisahi?is, or Brave Little Hunter, is female. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Stranded B.C. orphan orca’s skin turning white as it awaits rescue

Drone images show orca calf trapped near Zeballos is healthy female, Fisheries Department says

An orphaned killer whale calf stranded in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C. swims in this April 2024 handout drone photo. The young killer whale stranded in the lagoon off Vancouver Island is a girl. A statement from the Fisheries Department on Friday says drone images have determined that the calf given the First Nation name Kiisahi?is, or Brave Little Hunter, is female. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
The Vancouver-based non-profit Ocean Wise says underwater microphones will be used to help protect whales from collisions with ships off British Columbia’s coast. Killer whales play in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

B.C. underwater microphones aim to protect whales from ship strikes

The alerts will help mariners determine when to slow down or stop to avoid disturbing or injuring whales

The Vancouver-based non-profit Ocean Wise says underwater microphones will be used to help protect whales from collisions with ships off British Columbia’s coast. Killer whales play in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
Ehattesaht Chief Simon John is photographed outside the band office following a meeting about the orphaned killer whale calf in Zeballos, B.C., on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. John says a highly-orchestrated attempt to rescue a killer whale calf stranded in a Vancouver Island lagoon could happen as early as next week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Complicated B.C. orphan orca rescue operation could begin as soon as next week

Clock ticking for stranded calf as First Nations, DFO gather tools to reunite it with family

Ehattesaht Chief Simon John is photographed outside the band office following a meeting about the orphaned killer whale calf in Zeballos, B.C., on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. John says a highly-orchestrated attempt to rescue a killer whale calf stranded in a Vancouver Island lagoon could happen as early as next week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The orphaned orca calf who has been stranded after its pregnant mother died after being caught when the tide went out more than a week ago is spotted in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Monday April 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Rescuers to lift stranded orca out of B.C. lagoon to reunite it with family

Orphan calf has sparked worldwide attention after mother died in remote Vancouver Island inlet

The orphaned orca calf who has been stranded after its pregnant mother died after being caught when the tide went out more than a week ago is spotted in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C., on Monday April 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito