9-13-2018

SAN JUAN, Wash. — Despite extraordinary efforts over the last two months to save a young ailing orca, including administering antibiotics and providing it with live salmon, the calf is skinnier than ever and in poor condition.

Now, Chris Yates with NOAA Fisheries says they are weighing whether to intervene further by temporarily capturing the female orca known as J50.

“All of our focus and effort would be to provide her medical care with the goal of her returning to the wild,” he says.

He says they would only capture her if she becomes separated from her pod or is stranded.

The team says they’ve exhausted all treatments they can give her remotely.