Baby orca Toa remains in holding tank as rescue effort enters 'delicate stage'

The efforts to reunite baby orca Toa with his pod have reached what is being described as a "delicate stage".

The Department of Conservation said the situation had now stretched beyond what would be normal for a marine mammal stranding.

It said all options remain on the table and they will be discussed today.

Stormy weather conditions set to bring gale-force winds and four-metre swells to the Wellington region has forced volunteers to move orca calf Toa to a land-based holding tank.

The decision to move the juvenile out of his sea pen at the Plimmerton Boat Ramp was made based on safety advice for him and the volunteers in the area.

Department of Conservation Marine Species manager Ian Angus said the 32,000-litre pool will not be the orca's permanent home.

"Putting the animal into the pool would only be a temporary measure and is certainly not a long-term solution."

Toa, believed to be between 4 and 6 months old, was found stranded at Plimmerton on Sunday afternoon.

Search efforts to find his family over the past five days have so far been unsuccessful, leaving the orca in the hands of the Department of Conservation [DoC] Whale Rescue and volunteers.

Angus told the Herald that it is very unlikely any effort to relocate the orca would go ahead in the current conditions even if they spot a pod.

"Obviously we are trying to locate the pod, [but] doing it in these conditions is going to be really challenging."

He said they still haven't put a timeline on how long they can keep Toa.

"It does become more challenging the longer we have the orca here but also at the same time it does give an opportunity to maybe just build up its resilience."

Vets continue to do health assessments on the animal which show he remains in a stable condition.

Volunteers moving orca named Toa into holding pool last night. Photo / Department of Conservation

Angus said contingency planning for a range of scenarios continues.

There have been no further reported sightings today of orca pods.

Anyone who sights orca pods off the lower North Island's west coast – particularly between Wellington and Taranaki – is urged to provide as much information as possible to DoC, via wellington@doc.govt.nz or by calling 0800 DOC HOT.

Essential information includes location of the pod, direction of travel of the animals, and photographs or videos which clearly show the saddle/back markings of the animals and their dorsal fins.