Vancouver Island鈥檚 Ehattesaht First Nation is asking people to stay as far away as possible from kwiisa岣蕯is to give her the 鈥渂est possible chance鈥� to reunite with her family, says Ehattesaht Chief Simon John.
The Nation is concerned that kwiisa岣蕯is 鈥� the orca calf who spent a month stuck in the Little Espinosa Inlet Lagoon after her mother died ater getting beached in March 鈥� 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.
鈥淩ight from start the Nation has been concerned over the Brave Little Hunter being habituated and this factored heavily into all planning,鈥� a release from the Nation says.
The release says that during the past month, those involved in kwiisa岣蕯is鈥� rescue effort have learned that young orcas are very adaptable and impressionable.
鈥淥f course, everyone was very worried about her starving,鈥� Chief Simon John said in a press release. 鈥淲hen she first took the seal meat offered to her there was a mixture of relief that she wouldn鈥檛 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.鈥�
That means they are confident she can survive on her own.
鈥淲e have even heard she is chasing sea otters. We also know she is in the best possible location now; it鈥檚 a natural and known area, she can hear and be heard by her family as they pass by,鈥� Chief John said. 鈥淭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.鈥�
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is鈥� contact with boaters.
鈥淚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,鈥� he said.
DFO has rules in place to prevent interactions between humans and whales. Bigg鈥檚 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.
鈥淭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.鈥�
The full rules can be found online .
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