ZEBALLOS, British Columbia (AP) — An orphaned killer whale stranded in a remote Vancouver Island lagoon is proving difficult for rescuers to catch, an official at the site said Friday.
Ehattesaht First Nation Chief Simon John said the capture operation is in the “demobilization stage” after an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the 2-year-old orca that began before dawn.
He said they plan to try again in a couple of days, and that rescuers were “standing down.”
The 2-year-old calf has been alone in Little Espinosa Inlet for about three weeks after its pregnant mother was beached at low tide and died on March 23.
The pair got into the lagoon by swimming through a narrow and fast-moving channel connecting it to the ocean.
The First Nation said earlier that the rescue was launched at 5 a.m. because of favorable weather conditions.
The rescue plan involves trying to corral the female calf into a shallow part of the 3-kilometer lagoon, using boats, divers and a net, before she would be placed in a large fabric sling and hoisted onto a transport vehicle.
The Ehattesaht First Nation deployed a canoe and other resources to try and rescue an orphaned orca, but were unsuccessful, at a lagoon near Zeballos, British Columbia, Friday, April 12, 2024. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Ehattesaht First Nation deployed a canoe and other resources to try and rescue an orphaned orca, but were unsuccessful, at a lagoon near Zeballos, British Columbia, Friday, April 12, 2024. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press via AP)
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Kylian Mbappé was to lead an attacking trio including Ousmane Dembelé and Bradley Barcola for Paris Saint-Germain as the French champions had a full-strength squad for the Champions League semifinal first leg at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
Mbappé scored twice in both of his last two away games in the competition and was bidding to add to his 15 knockout-stage goals in away matches. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (23) has more.
Dembelé is returning to face the club he scored 10 goals in 50 games in one season for before a big-money move to Barcelona in 2017.
Right back Achraf Hakimi was also making his return Wednesday. The Morocco star played for Dortmund from 2018-20.
Dortmund’s injury worries eased before its first Champions League semifinal since 2013 with Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer recovering from illness to start alongside Julian Brandt in midfield.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzić opted for Niclas Füllkrug up front, with Karim Adeyemi and Jadon Sancho on either side. Ivory Coast forward Sébastien Haller, who has dealt with a persistent left ankle injury, was among the substitutes.
Experienced central defender Mats Hummels recovered from a knock sustained in the 4-1 loss at Leipzig over the weekend and was able to start beside Nico Schlotterbeck.
The winners of the two-leg tie will play either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final in London on June 1. The old rivals drew 2-2 in their semifinal first leg in Munich on Tuesday.
Dortmund, which knocked out Atlético Madrid to reach the final four, already faced PSG in the group stage, losing 2-0 in Paris before drawing 1-1 at home and topping the group.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Supporters cheer before the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal-Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Supporters cheer before the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal-Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Supporters cheer before the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal-Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Supporters cheer before the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal-Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
PSG's Kylian Mbappe warms up before the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal-Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
The trophy is displayed before the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal-Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
