The 2-year-old whale known to scientists as A-73 but nicknamed "Springer" by local media was reported in good condition on board the high-speed catamaran boat that is carrying her on a journey of about 460 miles from Manchester, Washington to northern Vancouver Island.

It is one of the first attempts to reunite a wild orca whale -- as killer whales are also known -- with its family pod. She is expected to arrive at Telegraph Cove late on Saturday, where she will be placed in a holding pen to adapt to conditions and have her health evaluated.

"We will have done the human part. When she leaves is up to the whale," said John Nightingale, president of the Vancouver Aquarium, which is supervising the transfer operation.

The black-and-white, 1,200 pound whale has become the focus of widespread attention by both the public and scientists since she was discovered in January swimming in Puget Sound near Seattle.

Orcas rarely separate from their family pods so how A-73 got to the Seattle area where her pod has never been seen is a mystery. It is believed she either became separated from it or was rejected after her mother died, and eventually made her way down the coast on her own.

By the time she came to the attention of authorities she was suffering health problems including a skin rash, bad breath and worms that had reduced her appetite.

Worried the whale would die of sickness or be injured in the busy waterway, U.S. officials agreed to capture her in May so she could be treated, with an eye to returning her to Canada when her pod arrived in its traditional summer feeding grounds.

U.S. fisheries officials declared the orca fit for travel in early July, but Canadian officials wanted more time to examine her and it was not until this week that they were assured she would not pose a health risk to other wild killer whales when released.