Stranded Orca Finds Freedom

Tuesday, November 23, 2004
NEW ZEALAND – Freedom for an orca whale, stranded east of Whangarei.

The giant mammal had been stuck in the estuary at the Taiharuru Heads since early this morning.

Orca researcher Dr Ingrid Visser says the adult male was with a female and young calf when they were caught out by the low tide.

Dr Visser says while the mother and calf extracted themselves, the 22-year-old male remained put.

She says relief came when the tide started to change, and he managed to swim off.

She says he has rejoined a pod of eight other orca heading back into the Pacific Ocean.