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Live salmon released for ailing orca

SEATTLE — Whale researchers working to save an ailing killer whale have released live salmon into waters in front of the free-swimming orca.

But they didn't see the critically endangered whale called J50 take any of the eight salmon dropped from a boat Sunday.

The feeding operation is part of an extraordinary response effort to save the malnourished orca. A veterinarian also injected J50 with medication using a dart Thursday.

Researchers want to see whether they can dose a live salmon with medication and feed it to the whale. But they first need to test whether it will take the fish.

NOAA Fisheries biologist Brad Hanson told reporters Monday that they will wait for the pod of orcas to return to the inland waters of Washington state to evaluate the next step.

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