Baby porpoise on mend at Vancouver Aquarium

The future's looking brighter for a stranded harbour porpoise rescued in Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver.

The six-week-old porpoise is being treated at the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.

Officials said Friday they remain cautiously optimistic about the porpoise's chances of survival.

"We have around-the-clock care on him and he is getting fed every two hours," said Lindsaye Akhurst, manager of the rescue centre. "He seems to be responding well to treatment and also the food that we have been tube feeding him."

A rescue team was called in Sept. 16 after local residents found the 12-kilogram marine mammal on a beach.

Rescuers said it was having difficulty breathing, could no longer swim and its muscles and skin were damaged from exposure.

Akhurst said the porpoise, named Jack by his minders, has gained some weight and is slowly becoming more active.

Jack is the third harbour porpoise rescued by the aquarium this year.