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CNN Live Saturday

Organization Wonders What to do With Orphaned Whale

Aired March 09, 2002 - 12:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the waters near Seattle, Washington, an orphaned whale has been living alone since January off Vashon Island. It seems it was separated from its pod.

As CNN's Lilian Kim reports, some scientists are worried time may be running out for the baby whale.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LILIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She is just a baby, 2 years old, 12 feet long, and all alone. Somehow within the past couple of months, this orca whale became separated from her pod, and can now be seen hanging out at a ferry dock near Seattle.

BOB JOHNSON, WASH. STATE FERRY EMPLOYEE: One of the other coworkers nicknamed it Orca Annie.

KIM: Playful and active, the baby orca has attracted quite a following. But experts are worried that she may not be in the best of health or getting enough to eat.

BRIAN GORMAN, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE: She has got some kind of skin disorder that probably suggests that she is in stress, so we are guarded about her, I guess you could say, if you were a veterinarian.

KIM: The National Marine Fisheries Service is now trying to figure out how it can help.

(on camera): A decision on what to do with the orphaned orca needs to be made in the next few weeks before Salmon runs slow down, and her food supply starts to dwindle.

(voice-over): Some suggest leaving the calf alone, but more likely the whale will be rehabilitated, possibly at an aquarium. Another option, tow the baby home to Canadian waters in hopes of reuniting her with her pod, a plan that would minimize human contact.

MICHAEL HARRIS, ORCA CONSERVANCY: We don't want this animal to begin to get accustomed to having human contact, or else it's going to make a very bad candidate for getting it back into the wild.

KIM: There is no simple solution, but experts agree the common goal is to find a plan that's in the best interest of the baby orca. Lilian Kim, CNN, Vashon Island, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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