Young orca whale found alone in 2013 has been reunited with his pod

Sam, the young killer whale that was separated from his pod and discovered in a small cove near Aristazabal Island on B.C.’s northern coast in 2013, has been reunited with his family.

Researches from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) spotted the young transient killer whale swimming with his mother and siblings on July 2.

When Sam, or T46C2 (his scientific name) was found alone in Weeteeam Bay two years ago, he wasn’t eating and his constant cries for his pod were scaring away any potential food sources.

Scientists from both DFO and the Vancouver Aquarium developed a plan to help Sam out of the bay, and he eventually made his way back into the waters of the Hecate Strait.

In a release, Carla Crossman, a research biologist at the Vancouver Aquarium, said that there is no better possible outcome for the young orca.

“These sightings indicate that Sam has successfully reintegrated with its family and that like other maternally-related groups of killer whales, the T046Cs are maintaining social cohesion over long periods of time.”