Rescued Orca returns to Northwest waters (Springer & family)

[LauraK]

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- An orphaned killer whale that was rescued from Puget Sound last summer has been spotted with family members off the north coast of Canada's Vancouver Island, confirming the success of the effort to restore her to the wild. <cut

Researcher Paul Spong at Orcalab, which monitors whales off Vancouver Island, said Springer was spotted Wednesday from a whale-watching vessel with about 30 other whales, including close relatives.

"There's no question about it," Spong said. "She looks great."

Springer was captured near Seattle last June after she spent months hanging around a ferry dock.

Her mother had apparently died over the winter and Springer wandered south -- 400 miles from her home waters -- looking for food and companionship. She was underweight, had a skin condition and was getting dangerously cozy with boats.
<cut

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/07/11/orphan.orca.ap/index.html

[AnnabelLee]

1. This is good news!

Whales are such gentle creatures.:loveya:

[Nambe]

2. Really great. I'm glad Springer had family to go to!

Cetations are pretty clanish. Looking one in the eye stays with you forever.

[NYC]

3. I got the impression it was not HER family.

I saw it on the television news this evening. I thought she had joined a strange family.

Either way, she was accepted, and that's what counts.

[Divernan]

4. Great to read a happy ending story.

thanks for posting. My son is going kayaking in the San Juan Islands (just below Vancouver) this weekend, one of which is called Orcas Island. I visited there and it is an exquisitely beautiful place.

[DUreader]

5. SPRINGER FOR SENATE

Put her in the Infomercial.

[jamesinca]

6. This makes my heart glad

I have only seen the whales migrate off the CA coast by Monterey and that was something else. I think what most set my fascination with whales was seeing one, at about age 11, washed up on the beach. That was a sad day, but a very eye opening day. I am happy to see this article, thanks for posting.