Bob McLaughlin: "Rescuing Springer & Scarlet"

09/13/18 • 19 min

The last orca calf to be live captured in Puget Sound in a rescue effort to save her life was Springer, an orphan who liked to swim near boats. She was captured and returned to her family group. The same equipment used in that intervention will be used if officials capture the ailing J50 for rehabilitation. Also called "Scarlet", the near-death Southern Resident orca calf continues to decline despite efforts to dart her with antibiotics. If captured, the plan is to diagnose and treat her with the hope of returning her to the JPod.

Previous Episode

Dr. Martin Haulena: "A Historic Intervention"

Dr. Martin Haulena is at the center of a historic effort to save a sickly killer whale. He is the head veterinarian at the Vancouver Aquarium who shot ailing Southern Resident orca calf J50 "Scarlet" with antibiotics on two occasions. Dr. Haulena talks about his worry for her survival and how she might forever change the way humans intervene in the future of wildlife.

Next Episode

Ken Balcomb: "Witnessing Extinction"

Ken Balcomb has been identifying and studying the Southern Resident killer whales for decades with the Center for Whale Research. After J50's death, he says it's past time that action takes the place of politics. The orcas are down to just 75 with very few reproducing. He hopes he does not see the end of them in his lifetime, but believes it's a real possibility.