Ten years later, history-making orca still strong

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – You probably remember about ten years ago, all eyes were on the dramatic rescue of a baby orca abandoned in Puget Sound.
    
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the rescue of Springer the killer whale.

She was only two years old, sick and all alone when she was found.

Rescuers from both sides of the border helped bring her back to health and reunite her with her pod – the first time something like that had ever been done.

In a history-making move, she was taken in and nursed back to health. About a month later, she was released back to her pod, as her grandmother led the pod through Johnstone Strait.

Meghan McKillop with the Vancouver Aquarium says orcas are a lot like humans.

“We really learned that family is really very important,” she says. “If they don’t have a family to go back to, they pretty much don’t have a strong chance of surviving.”

Researchers say they see Springer regularly and that she’s doing well.

“Every summer researchers have seen her come back with her family and she’s well integrated back with her pod,” confirms McKillop.

The Vancouver Aquarium is hosting a special party tonight to remember the events leading up to the orca’s release.

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