Orca Rescue! The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer
Orca Rescue! The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer
Researchers tried to fit the pieces together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. An American scientist found a picture of Springer with her mother in Ketchikan, Alaska, in September 2000—the last time they were seen together.
Then Graeme found a picture of Springer with a different pod called the G1s. In 2001, the G1s had been spotted near the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a body of water that connects the Pacific Ocean to the Salish Sea.
The puzzle pieces fell into place. Springer had somehow survived the death of her mother. She joined up with the G1s and traveled south with them. At some point, she became separated from them and swam alone into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Was she following a salmon? Did she think she was entering her home waters of Johnstone Strait?
We’ll never know for sure. We do know that Springer swam into Puget Sound toward Seattle. She settled into one of the busiest waterways, and best fishing grounds, in the area.
The mystery of who she was had been solved. Springer was a northern resident orca. Her mother had died, but her grandmother, great-aunt and cousins were still alive in Canada. Now there was another big question to answer: What should we do?
In these times of so many sad stories of species loss or population decline, it’s refreshing to read about the only successful orca rescue and reunion with her pod on Canada’s west coast. This true story of Springer, told by a community organizer with a passion for orcas, is uplifting not only for its outcome but also for the focus, dedication and optimism that swept everyone involved along as they worked to make a difference in this young cetacean’s life.
The author relates her own involvement at times in this diary-style narrative that follows Springer from her discovery in Puget Sound, identification from photos and recorded sounds, the rescue feasibility decision process by environmental agencies, and through the actual rescue and transport of the orca back to her home territory. Tension builds to keep the reader engaged as the tale unfolds, first over health concerns, then delays with transportation, and worries about the timely arrival of Springer’s pod in the destination area. In the “Homecoming” chapter, the excitement and emotions reach a peak as local people turned out to watch the little orca’s arrival, welcoming her with traditional ceremonial songs, drumming and prayer because “it is the most delicious feeling in the world, waiting for whales.” Such thoughts, and strategic use of dialogue create a sense of immediacy for the reader. The author has enhanced the level of empathy for Springer by sharing details of her lively personality, especially her enjoyment of play with a stick, a tool the scientists found was a way to attract her attention.
The story doesn’t end with the happy reunion but also documents sightings over the next 17 years, bringing this story up to the present day. Now a mature whale with her own calves, Springer is still out there, a testament to the improbable becoming reality when there’s a willingness among people to work together. In the concluding pages, the author lists ongoing threats: declining salmon stocks, pollution, collisions with ships and their increasing ocean noise, entanglements in fishing gear, whaling which continues in some countries, and climate change that affects ocean temperatures.
Mixed in with the story, itself, orca facts help the reader understand orca culture. Physical characteristics and the three ecotypes of Pacific Northwest orcas are described. Another chapter focuses on the resident orca population, explaining the difference between northern and southern animals and some of their habits (kelping, prey-sharing, rubbing, gathering in superpods). Readers learn some of the unfortunate history of orcas in captivity from 1964 to the mid-1970s when captures were stopped, and how the movie Free Willy inspired the movement to release Keiko from his Mexico City aquarium. There’s a nice double-spread showing often-observed “Whale Behaviors”. ‘How You Can Help’ suggests actions young readers (and all of us) can take to protect whales. A bibliography of books and organizations gives access to further information. The “Glossary” defines terms in bold text, and a page of participants’ names shows how many organizations and businesses were involved in this project.
Illustrations in soft watercolor help readers visualize the details of the rescue process. The end papers present sketched maps of the location of Springer’s discovery and the route of her journey to home waters. In case readers get swept up in the fictional style of the story and forget the reality, a small collection of photos of Springer is included, along with a family tree diagram to show the relatives in her A4 pod.
Orca Rescue! The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer brings together a wealth of knowledge accumulated over the decades of human interaction with orcas in a unique, easy-to-read and heartwarming tale. It will resonate with nature lovers through the author’s personal connections with the orca rescue team. It’s perfect for recreational reading, rereading, sharing and for stimulating discussion about our relationship with the natural world and the need for human intervention in critical conservation situations.
Gillian Richardson is a freelance writer living in British Columbia.