Antibiotics delivered to sick southern resident killer whale ‘J50’
Posted September 3, 2018 11:06 pm.
Last Updated September 3, 2018 11:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A breakthrough in the international effort to save a sick Southern Resident Killer Whale in the Pacific waters off the BC coast.
Hours after the whale- known as J50- was feared dead on Monday, marine biologists from both sides of the border located her and successfully administered much needed medicine.
“They were able to deliver one dart to J50 with antibiotics and it appears that she received at least most of the dose,” says Micheal Millstein with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“Basically help her kind of knock down any infection or parasites that might be affecting her and help her start putting that weight back on and recover her health.”
The three-and-a-half-year-old orca has been losing weight and struggling to keep up with her pod for several months, concerning marine biologists who have been unable to determine what’s causing her ailing health.
Millstein adds the next step for marine biologists is going back out to try and deliver deworming medication, something they were unable to do after administering the antibiotic because they couldn’t get close enough.
“If we can get any further fecal samples or other indications of how she’s doing, and any sense that the antibiotics are helping her out cause that’s an important sign as well.”
Marine biologists continue to be concerned for J50’s emaciated condition, but Millstein says it’s a good sign that she’s still with her pod and remains active and close with her mother, J16.
She is one of only 75 Southern Resident Killer Whales still travelling between BC and California.
