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Latest News
July 10, 2003
A73 Returns -
News Release provided by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine
Science Centre
Past A73 News
July 17,
2002
Update
provided by the Vancouver Aquarium
July 9, 2002
A73 WHALE TO BE TRANSPORTED
TO CANADIAN WATERS
KILLER
WHALE (ORCA)
July 1,
2002
Update
provided by the US National Marine Fisheries
Service
The Northwest Region now has
a place on its Web site for A73 information. It includes
some tape from the cameras watching her, current status,
background, the June 21 vet report, and a link to
information on the A73
Rehab Fund. Go to http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/mmammals/whales/a73orca.htm
for the menu.
For someone entering our site
at www.nwr.noaa.gov, scroll down the page, looking at the
right-hand column; the A73 link is under the
"Marine Mammals" heading.
June 28,
2002
Update
provided by the US National Marine Fisheries
Service
The care team in Manchester
has been cataloging her behavior, using above- and
underwater cameras. If she seems to spend too much time
on the surface, they try to think of natural ways to
stimulate her. Jeff Foster said that they’ve put crabs
and ling cod in her pen to add variety. Lynne Barre says
that they tried putting in a bag of pebbles to provide
sounds and sensations like the rocks orcas rub on in the
wild, but A73 showed
no interest. Lynne mentioned that they’re really varying
the whale’s feedings, using different times, amounts and
sizes of fish.
June 18,
2002
Update provided by the US National Marine
Fisheries Service
A73 is exhibiting normal
whale behaviors such as breaching, tale-slapping, and
swimming in random patterns. We'd like to see her eating
more, but it's not surprising that she isn't eating
robustly given her recent experiences and new
environment.
NMFS doesn't plan to give her any
medications until we have A73's full medical
profile.
June 14,
2002
Update
provided by the US National Marine Fisheries
Service
A73 is continuing to do
fine, moving around her net pen with a variety of whale
behaviors. Live salmon were introduced to the pen and
she ate one; the others are still swimming in the
enclosure. She hasn't yet received any
medications.
NMFS is strongly cautioning
people to stay away from the area. There's almost
nothing to see from the water or the air; the noise and
activity is not good for the whale; and approaching too
close is harassment under the U.S. Marine Mammal
Protection Act. Distances are 400 yards by boat; 1,500
feet elevation and 500 feet off-center by
air.
June 13, 2002
US National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) rescues A73 and successfully
transports the whale to NFMS facility in Manchester,
Washington, USA to
undergo medical assessment and treatment.
May 24, 2002
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries
Service (NOAA Fisheries) Announces Decision to Rescue
Orphaned Orca.
April 17, 2002
The US National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(DFO), based on advice from a scientific panel of
experts from Canada and the US, announce contingency
plan for intervention to assist a lone, juvenile killer
whale, identified as A73.
January 2002
A lone juvenile whale was
observed in Puget Sound in Washington State, USA. A73 was born to one of the
northern resident pods that is found off northern
Vancouver Island.
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A73