Orphan orcas saga will be talked about for generations, says First Nation chief [Video]

An orphan killer whale calf escaped from a remote Vancouver Island tidal lagoon on Friday. It had been trapped for more than a month, and immediately swam towards the open ocean, making calls for its extended family members, say overjoyed rescue officials.

The young orca’s bid for freedom occurred at a high tide early Friday and involved swimming through a swift-moving narrow channel, with Esperanza Inlet in the near distance.

“It’s been a joyful day, a joyful day,” said Ehattesaht First Nation Chief Simon John at a news conference. “I’m very ecstatic about how things happened today. There was a lot of anticipation for this moment for the past five weeks.”

The orca has been the focus of intense rescue efforts since March 23, when her pregnant mother became stranded on a rocky beach and died near the bridge in the small inlet next to the community of Zeballos, B.C., more than 450 …