More meds for sick orca

Photo: NOAA

Researchers are preparing to give a sick killer whale more medication off the coast of Vancouver Island.

The southern resident orca J50 is showing signs its health may be improving after it was darted with antibiotics earlier this month.

It was spotted returning to the Salish Sea on Saturday.

The four-year-old whale, dubbed Scarlet, had been emaciated and sluggish, and was falling behind its pod as it swam toward San Juan Island.

But it was seen socializing with the rest of the pod over the weekend, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, giving hope it may be on the mend.

Staff are preparing to dose the orca with another round of antibiotics, and may also administer a dewormer to reduce the risk of parasites.

The pod was last heading back toward the open ocean.

The endangered southern resident population is down to just 75 whales, and J50 is a potential calf-bearing female, which prompted the intervention.

– with files from CTV Vancouver Island