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BC: Springer’s Back, Again! |
| June 29, 2004 |
 | The relocation and reintroduction of Springer back into the wild was a success.
Photo: Vancouver Aquarium |
The Vancouver Aquarium is pleased to announce that the orphaned killer whale Springer (A73) has survived her second winter in the wild after being reunited with her family two years ago. She was seen yesterda for the first time this year in the lower Johnstone Strait area. Doug Sandilands reports that he and his co-workers got a "nearly positive" identification of Springer at around noon yesterday near the Robson Bight Michael Bigg Ecological Reserve. He noted that she was with members of the A36 matriline, and appears to be happy and healthy. Doug is coordinator of the BC Cetacean Sightings Network at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre and is spending the summer working for the Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Centre Society heading up the Robson Bight Warden Program, which has for many years helped to preserve Robson Bight as a killer whale sanctuary.
Springer, who became an orphan when her mother A45 died, captured the attention of the world two years ago when concern was raised about her welfare after she was frequenting an area of heavy boat traffic in Puget Sound all alone. The occurrence of a solitary animal is unusual because resident killer whales normally travel in cohesive family groups.
In February of 2002, scientists and veterinarians assessed Springer's health and determined that her condition was deteriorating and her prognosis was poor. Springer was captured on June 13th, 2002 for treatment.
On July 13th, 2002, the Vancouver Aquarium and Fisheries and Oceans, with the help of many members of the public and NGO’s, relocated Springer to a sea pen near Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island. She was released from the pen on July 14th, 2002 after scientists determined that a pod of whales nearby were close relatives of hers.
For several days following her release, Springer periodically shadowed various resident pods, joining them occasionally for short periods of time. As time progressed she was seen spending considerable time with her family pod.
Springer made it through her first post-relocation winter last year, spending the summer in Johnstone Strait and leaving with her pod in the fall of 2003. Her pod typically leaves for the winter, returning in late June or early July. Returning yesterday with her pod to Johnstone Strait means that she has survived her second post-relocation winter, and that the reunification efforts were truly a success.
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