ZEBALLOS, British Columbia (AP) — A young killer whale that was trapped for more than a month in a lagoon on Vancouver Island swam past a bottleneck at high tide early Friday, reaching an inlet that could take it to the open sea, officials said.
The Ehattesaht and Nuchatlaht First Nations said in a statement that a team monitoring the 2-year-old calf saw it swim past the area where its mother had died, pass under a bridge and head down the inlet “all on her own.”
The young orca still must leave the Little Espinosa Inlet to reach open ocean.
The calf had been stuck in the tidal lagoon near the British Columbia village of Zeballos about 450 kilometers (280 miles) northwest of Victoria since March 23, when its pregnant mother became trapped at low tide and died on a rocky beach.
“Today the community of Zeballos and people everywhere are waking up to some incredible news and what can only be described as pride for strength this little orca has shown,” Chief Simon John said in a release.
Inquiry slams UK authorities for failures that killed thousands in infected blood scandal
Maternity Insurance Coverage to Be Expanded
Village Basketball Competition Kicks off in SW China's Guizhou
Panax Notoginseng Cultivation Contributes to Rural Revitalization in SW China
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Maternal, Infant Mortality Rates in China Drop to Historic Lows
China Focus: PLA Navy's Founding Anniversary Commemorated with Public Celebrations
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
Tea Culture Event Held to Celebrate International Tea Day in Fuzhou, SE China
Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
China to Pilot National Cultural Heritage