Baby orca Toa dies - Whale Rescue

Volunteers encouraging male orca calf Toa to play with bull kelp in his pool at the Plimmerton Boating Club in Porirua. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Baby orca Toa has died, the Department of Conservation has confirmed.

The juvenile orca, aged between 3 and 6 months, was found stranded on rocks at Plimmerton beach near Porirua on July 11.

Search efforts over the past 12 days to find the calf's pod had been so far unsuccessful, leaving him in the care of the Department of Conservation, Whale Rescue and volunteers.

"Despite a massive community effort...he has tonight died in the sea pen at Plimmerton Boating club," the Department of Conservation said in a statement.

DoC Marine Species Manager, Ian Angus said local iwi, many staff, rescue groups, and the local community threw everything at trying to save him.

"We were always aware that the longer he was in captivity, away from his mother, the more likely it was that his health would deteriorate.

"Toa passed quickly, surrounded by love with his last days made as comfortable as possible."

Angus said finding and reuniting Toa with his pod was still the goal as the weekend approached.

"This calf had captured hearts, and no one wanted to believe that he didn't have a fighting chance.

"We will continue to treat Toa with the dignity and respect he deserves. Appropriate arrangements are being made with Ngāti Toa."

Angus said DoC would like to thank everyone who has volunteered their time and efforts to saving this orca calf and everyone who followed his journey.

The condition of the orca calf that stranded 13 days ago began to deteriorate this evening.

"We have to report that a little time ago Toa passed away, he rapidly deteriorated and vets on site rushed to his aid. But were unable to save him," Whale Rescue said in a statement on its Facebook page tonight.

"We have no further details as to what happened as you can all imagine we are devastated."

We have to report that a little time ago Toa passed away, he rapidly deteriorated and vets on site rushed to his aid....

Posted by Whale-Rescue.org on Friday, July 23, 2021

Earlier today, DoC staff revealed plans to ramp up search efforts for the pod of stranded orca calf Toa as a window of fine weather opens.

The calf was moved back into a sea pen near the Plimmerton boat ramp last night after it was determined it would be in the best interest of the orca's health.

Toa had been kept in a 32,000-litre temporary pool since last Thursday after a storm that hit the Wellington region threatened to put volunteers and the animal at risk.

Marine biologist Dr Ingrid Visser earlier today said he was relieved to be out of the temporary pool.

"He's increased the speed of his swims and he's also starting to spend a bit more time underwater."