Whidbey Island floating clinic hopes to save orcas

By Luisa Loi / Whidbey News-Times

A group of scientists has transformed a dinghy into a mobile health clinic to assess the health of two beloved species: the southern resident killer whales and Bigg’s killer whales.

Over the past month, whale experts from the SeaDoc Society, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries have been tracking down patients in the Salish Sea, armed with binoculars, directional microphones and a federal permit to approach and film the orcas with drones.

Between Sept. 5 and 7, the mobile health clinic paid a visit to the waters near Central Whidbey to examine some Bigg’s.

Around this time of the year, whenever they receive a sighting report from local whale enthusiasts and nonprofits like Orca Network, a team of wildlife veterinarians, molecular biologists and certified drone operators sails from Friday Harbor in hopes of catching the orcas on time and collecting some goo.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/whidbey-island-floating-clinic-hopes-to-save-orcas/