Baby orca, trapped where its ‘Big Mama’ died, brings together B.C. researchers and locals in efforts to reunite it with family

Water taxis, fishing boats and whale-watching vessels are criss-crossing Tofino’s harbour on their various missions on a sunny afternoon. Whatever their official purpose, they are united in watching the water off British Columbia for one particular family.Jennifer Steven and John Forde own the Whale Centre, and even as they send boatloads of whale watchers out on tours to see whatever whales they can find – usually grey whales – the guides, pilots and captains are eager to spot a particular branch of Bigg’s killer whales, the T109s. That’s the family of the orphan calf that has been stranded in a lagoon further up the west coast of Vancouver Island.