Attempts to reunite baby orca with pod to resume today

Efforts to reunite a lost baby orca with its family are set to resume near Wellington this morning.

The juvenile was found stranded at Plimmerton beach, just north of Porirua, yesterday afternoon.

The Department of Conservation, Whale Rescue and Project Jonah responded, with attempts made to locate the baby orca's pod.

DoC marine species manager Ian Angus said unfortunately they were not successful, and they've instead cared for the calf overnight.

He said to keep it safe, the rescue team loaded the calf onto a trailer where it was kept onshore, actively monitored and kept moist and cool.

A number of on lookers from the public have come down to Plimmerton Boat Ramp to watch the orca. Photo / Nick James

"This is a common practice for beached orcas separated from their pod.

"The method allows a safer and more active monitoring process that prevents the calf from being continuously beached."

DoC will reconvene with the search team this morning to continue to monitor the calf and ensure it is safe.

Wellington Coordinator of Whale Rescue Linda Robinson said a plane from the Kāpiti Aero Club has been dispatched to search the coastline in hopes of finding the baby Orca's pod.

"It will just make the search a lot easier and quicker. It is great to have boats but if you have a plane up in the air you can spot a pod Orca quite easily."

Robinson told the Herald that overnight they tried to keep the Orca as calm as possible in the trailer.

"It was hard because he is a baby and he was stressed."

The juvenile was found stranded at Plimmerton beach. Photo / Nick James

Robinson said since entering the water the Orcas become less stressed. "There's no crying, no thrashing about, so he's happy to be in the water, that's his environment." She said the people in the water with the whale have been with him for hours, and was confident they could find the pod.

Dr Ingrid Visser said they hope to locate the pod then transport the whale as close as possible to them.

Visser said they are continually monitoring the whales health.

"We monitor his breathing rate because that can be indicative of stress and his vocalisations."

She said they are asking anybody that spot any orca across the coastline to get in contact with them on 0800 SEE ORCA.