J50 and the Desperation for the Save
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Canadian Science (Medium)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2018/08/05
American and Canadian scientists are working feverishly, together, to save an orca. It is endangered.
The killer whale is called J50. It is quite emaciated and lethargic and has lost approximately 20 percent of total body weight. J50 is one of only 75 southern resident killer whales that travel between British Columbia and California.
She is a 4-year-old whale and, as a female, is important for thee reproductive capabilities of the low level population there, with only 75 left. However, according to Michael Milsten from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States, there has not been an observed orca of this type come out of this rather low survival level before.
One potential solution proposed is to feed chinook salmon to the killer whale while having medication in the chinook salmon. However, this strategy has not been used before.
This indicates the rather desperate measures considered for the overall health of the orca. The purpose is to nurse the whale back to health in order to not have J50 dependent on people for sustenance and proper feeding.
However, in despair over the poor health of her, many are worried about the proverbial clock that they’re racing against.
“They feel the situation is dire, that she probably has potentially a matter of days. Nobody knows for sure, (and) if we were going to attempt something that we would need to do it pretty soon,” Milstein said.
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