Luna to Remain in Nootka Sound

Friday, May 30, 2003
VANCOUVER -- A scientific panel of Canadian and American experts has decided not to reunite a lonely killer whale with his pod.

The young male, nicknamed Luna has been surviving alone in Nootka Sound, on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, for almost two years.

Marilyn Joyce, with the Fisheries Department, says they believe it is not in the best interest of the whale to interfere.

It's unusual for killer whales to be alone because they normally travel in cohesive family groups. Experts aren't sure why Luna separated from his southern whale pod.

Leading the orca to open waters where he might naturally reunite with his pod has also been ruled out because it would further condition him to humans.

A woman has already been fined 100 dollars for petting Luna -- something scientists say could foster abnormal behaviour patterns in the whale and hurt his chances of reuniting with its pod.