Scientists in Kamchatka found a baby killer whale wrapped in plastic tape in the waters of the Avacha Bay. Animal rights activists fear that the mammal may die, Tatyana Ivkovich, a biologist and head of scientific expeditions of the Far Eastern FEROP killer whale project, told TASS.
“In the Avacha Bay, Willy’s female mother recently gave birth to a cub. A very tiny one got caught in a loop of plastic tape or rope — debris left by a person. Now his body is being squeezed by this rope. Cubs grow up fast at this age and it’s scary to imagine what will happen to him next. He’s active now, following his mom. We met him at Cape Shipunsky on the evening of July 4 and on the morning of July 5 on a voyage with the catamaran Orca. Cubs are not often born in the Avacha Bay and rarely survive. At first, we were so happy about the newborn, until we saw the rope on his body,” Ivkovich said.
Killer whales live off the coast of Kamchatka, most often they are seen in Avacha Bay and Russian Bay. Boat trips are organized annually from May to October to observe these mammals by tourists.