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Update Aug 6
The rescue team did a practice run of a rescue mission today. J Pod clan of orcas still have not been seen in Washington waters. They only have authority to operate in WA, and still have not received federal permission to intervene with J50 Scarlet, but they are hoping for all elements to align for a mission by Wednesday.
"We are both fishing creatures; we both live for the salmon. And in our community, we come together when someone is hurting. We come together when someone needs help. It is the same with the Salish Sea, and with the orcas. She is part of the web that connects us all."
“We each belong to the Salish Sea.”
James said he believes the mother whale, carrying her baby for hundreds of miles, was making a deliberate, public statement. “This is her protest; she is trying to get the world’s attention. And it is working.” People around the region and the world have followed the sad story of Tahlequah, and her starving relative
Bill James, Lummi Hereditary Chief and member of rescue team
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/hand-feeding-a-wild-orca-inside-the-practice-run-to-save-the-ailing-killer-whale-j50/
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"Update: for people interested in what is going on with the southern resident orca whales, J35 and J50...there has been no sign of J Pod in local San Juan Island, WA waters since Thursday, the pod is keeping to the outer coast and west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and environs. So, we don't know how the ailing four year old orca, J50, is faring, nor whether J35, Tahlequah is still carrying her dead calf. As of Sunday night, the emergency feed for starving J50 is on for tomorrow, with the Lummi Nation ready to supply fresh chinook, served bright, alive and swimming. King County has provided the SoundGuardian, the county's new research boat with crew to help, and NOAA and the Vancouver (BC) Aquarium, and the UW are turning out biologists and veterinarians to do a health assessment of J50 tomorrow -- presuming the pod shows up -- to determine if trying to feed her makes sense. If so, the first attempt could come as soon as tomorrow afternoon. We'll see. Lots of moving parts, variables, unknowns, and questions. It's an unprecedented attempt to help the critically-endangered pod. Meanwhile people around the world are showing interest, care and concern.
Whatever tomorrow brings, photographer Alan Berner and I will be on scene and reporting for the Seattle Times." - Linda Mapes
Update Mon Aug 6
You can watch the Orca Task Force Meeting online tomorrow.
Morning session
https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2018081016
Afternoon session
https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2018081017
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| Seattle research vessel SoundGaurdian joins orca resue mission |
Update Sun August 5
Seattle's research vessel, the SoundGaurdian, has been dispatched to aid in locating J50 Scarlet and assisting in any plans to feed and medicate her.
The vessel will dock in Bellingham and work with Lummi Nation. (Source: Dow Constantine, King County Executive)
