U.S. researchers have examined samples gathered from an ailing three-year orca swimming off the West Coast and say a parasite may be the reason the young killer whale is so thin.
The distressed southern resident killer whale, known as J-50, has been the focus of a cross-border emergency response from fisheries officials and veterinarians for several weeks after images revealed the whale had lost 20 per cent of its body weight.
The scientists tested fecal samples gathered last weekend from three members of the whale’s pod — called J-pod — including J-50.
They found a moderate level of a parasite known as Contracaecum, according to a release
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