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Rescued Baby Orca Begins Trip Home Tomorrow

Aired July 12, 2002 - 14:36   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The baby orca known to her rescuers as Springer will have to wait until tomorrow morning before she begins her trip home. There's a problem with the catamaran outfitted to take Springer to the waters off Canada's Vancouver Island. CNN's Lilian Kim has been in Manchester, Washington, all day. She joins us now live. And that cute little orca is right behind her there swimming.

Lilian, what's the latest?

LILIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the orphan orca is heading home, just not today. Mechanical problems are to blame, which means the operation will have to wait until tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): She is doing great. Scientists call her A-73, also known as Springer or BOO, short for baby orphaned orca. But this 2-year-old killer whale couldn't go back home to Canadian waters today as planned. The reason: mechanical problems on the boat that will be transporting her.

It's since been fixed, which means the young whale will head home Saturday.

DAVE HUFF, VANCOUVER AQUARIUM SCIENCE CENTER: She's looking great. I was out first light this morning and she was doing some jumps, down there in the net pan. And she looks bright and eager to go.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh!

KIM: The young killer whale first appeared near Seattle in January after being separated from the her family around the time of her mother's death. Last month, scientists captured the orca, then moved her to a sea pen to give her medical attention.

Now, with a clean bill of health, A-73 will embark on a 350-mile journey in hopes of reuniting with her pod of extended family members.

HUFF: Her family is there. Her grandmother is out there. She's got about as good a chance as any whale is going to get of a reintroduction. So this is really going to be an acid test for this kind of thing with killer whales. KIM: The 1,200-pound orca will be taken by boat to the northeastern tip of Vancouver Island. The trip should take about eight hours. Scientists will place the whale inside this fiberglass and steel tank, which will be mounted on this high-speed catamaran.

MATT NICHOLS, NICHOLS BROTHERS BOAT BUILDERS: The house is completely mounted separately from the hull, so there's no noise or vibration that comes up, which should also keep the whale very calm. And it will be a comfortable ride for the whale.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KIM: This very large crane you see behind me will be used to lift the orphaned orca out of the water tomorrow. Now, when A-73 eventually reaches her Canadian destination, she will be placed in a holding pen. Scientists will then release her after her grandmother's pod is spotted in the area.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Lilian, did you get a chance to get close to Springer? You're not allowed to be too close?

KIM: No, they don't want the young whale to be distracted by too many humans, so they are very restrictive. And we can't get that close. Our cameras can zoom in, but that's about as far as we can see her.

PHILLIPS: All right, Lilian Kim in Manchester, thank you.

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