Lone Orca Attacks Boat In Nootka Sound

Wednesday, August 18, 2004
GOLD RIVER, BC - A young orca separated from his pod attacked a 32-foot sailboat several times in Nootka Sound Tuesday, causing major damage and leading the skipper to fear for his life and that of his crew.

Greg Middleton says the lone orca's attacks on the Cat Paws II lasted for hours. The whale, believed to be Luna, damaged the steering gear and propeller and snapped off the rudder. Luna was so aggressive that Middleton thought his boat would sink.

"The whale came out of nowhere. We didn't know he was there, he was just suddenly appeared in front of the boat, came right around the back, hit the back of the steering and disabled the boat immediately," Middleton says. "It shattered that quadrant and I had no steering. And he was just picking the back of the boat up and throwing it around."

Middleton says politicians have to do something about Luna.

"I don't want to see the whale harmed, but I spent 24 hours having my boat bashed around."

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is now discouraging sailboats from entering Nootka Sound at all. The Coast Guard is broadcasting marine advisories warning boaters they risk being overturned by the dangerously playful orca.

The orca has become a tourist attraction in Nootka Sound, but the increased contact with people has made Luna more of a nuisance than a novelty.

Luna first appeared in Nootka Sound three years ago. Then only two years old, he had been separated from the rest of his pod. Luna was very friendly, swimming up to boats and rubbing up against them, even letting people pet him.

Scientists became afraid Luna's natural instincts and social skills were going to be affected by the human contact, preventing him from reuniting with his pod. The DFO warned people to keep their distance from the orca, but Luna had other ideas.

The young whale bumped up against float planes during take-off and landing. He received a gash above his eye, possibly from a boat propeller. And people continued to pat Luna when he appeared within arm's length of a dock.

The DFO planned to reunite Luna with his pod, but was thwarted by the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation.

The Mowachaht/Muchalaht claim Luna, who they call Tsux'iit, is the reincarnation of their chief and belongs near Gold River. When the DFO went to capture the whale so they could relocate him near his pod, the natives sang to Luna, luring him away from the DFO's pen.

The DFO is still working with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations on a stewardship plan for Luna, who will remain in Nootka Sound at least until the fall.

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