Future Uncertain For Lonely Killer Whale Hanging Out In Vancouver Island Port

Thursday, December 23, 2004
GOLD RIVER, BC – Safety versus spiritual needs divides the guardians of a lonely killer whale off Vancouver Island.

Area aboriginal people want to ensure the dangerously boisterous orca remains in Nootka Sound until a ceremonial potlatch in November 2005.

But residents of Gold River, who have watched with increasing alarm as Luna toys with boats and floatplanes, are worried what another summer with their huge guest will mean.

The area First Nation believes Luna is in Nootka Sound because he embodies the spirit of their late chief. He will not be trucked away from the area at least until after the important potlatch to celebrate the chief's life.

Even after that date, the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation say they'll continue to object to the technique planned to reunite the whale - known to them as Tsux'iit - with its family pod in U.S. waters.

"Putting it in a truck and then having it travel all the way down the road. . . We find it's really disrespectful for the whale." said Jamie James, the native group's fisheries manager.

He also said the band would prefer a natural reunion.

"Let nature take its course. When the whale wants to leave, he'll leave. We don't object to him reuniting with his pod."

John Ford, a marine mammal scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said a natural reunion between Luna and his pod is unlikely.

"His pod's never been spotted in that area. This is part of the mystery," he said.

An effort to move the five-year-old orca back to his family pod this summer failed when natives lured the whale away from a capture pen.

The Mowachaht-Muchalaht later signed a stewardship agreement to watch the whale in exchange for $10,000 from the Department of Fisheries.

Having the whale spend another summer in busy Nooka Sound on the west side of Vancouver Island concerns Marilyn Joyce, the marine mammal co-ordinator for Fisheries.

"We've been saying public safety is the department's No. 1 concern, " she responded when questioned if safety overrides the wishes of natives.

"These other factors of what's going to happen to Luna now and what are the First Nations issues has to be woven in there," Joyce said, adding she's hopeful of finding a solution that can meet everyone's needs.

But there's also a lot of emotion around the whale's three-year stay in Nooka Sound.

Just before Mowachaht-Muchalaht Chief Ambrose Maquinna died three years, ago he predicted he would return as a killer whale.

A few days later, Tsux'iit showed up in the sound.

For others, the hurt is more financial and frightening.

Kjell Aalhus was fishing for salmon in the sound this summer when Luna started "hammering away" at the rudder under his 12-metre fish boat.

"He just wouldn't leave. We tried everything to get away," Aalhus said of the persistent whale.

His insurance company paid the $3,200 damage bill.

"They said this is the first time they had a whale claim."

Keith Bell, 70, of Gold River has had several close encounters with Luna.

"He lifted our little dingy, 12-foot dinghy, out of the water three times," Bell said, describing one voyage with a friend in the sound.

"We were sitting on top of the whale. That's when I was really getting worried about somebody getting killed."

James agrees there have been some close calls between boaters and Tsux'iit.

"He is a danger, but not on purpose," he said. "He's still a wild whale, young whale, and not many people realized how big he is getting."

Ford admits the whale is a bit "obsessive compulsive" when it comes to his attraction to some boats, but he's more concerned for Luna's well-being.

"The concern really is that because he's so boisterous and assertive that accidents could happen," Ford worried.

While Luna has been a great tourist draw for the economically depressed village of Gold River, even the local chamber of commerce admits it may be safer to relocate the whale.

"If he's (Luna) being hurt, or hassled or stressed, then no, we don't need that for tourism," said Elayne Roberts, the chamber's treasurer.

She said having a small whale in their back yard has been wonderful, but "I don't own a boat in the marina and I don't have him harassing me."

Robert calls him a nuisance, but doesn't believe he should be treated like other wild-problem animals.

"People do remove the bears, take them to another area, or in the worst scenario shoot them."

The owner of Air Nootka, the float plane service in and out of Gold River, refuses to use Luna to promote his business.

Grant Howatt agrees the whale has become trouble in the sound "because so many people disregarded the law which says you're not supposed to have contact with the whale."

Howatt said the lonely whale "thinks it's his right to go visit with people and play with their boats."

His advice is to ignore the whale and it will go away, but even Nootka Air has sustained some damage from the pesky beast.

Howatt believes someone could eventually end up hurt or dead, especially those using canoes or kayaks.

"Nobody really knows what would happened if somebody got in the water with him. He could easily just want to play with them, or who knows what," Howatt said.

The human-whale interaction is a chief concern for Joyce as well.

"The more habituated he becomes to people. . . You know the concern is that might decrease his chances of reintegrating successfully," she said.

And as the whale becomes more curious, Ford's concerns grow for both Luna and the public. "I hope this has a Walt Disney ending," he said.

Here are some facts about Luna

Born: Sept. 19, 1999, thought to be Luna's birth date birth date within the southern resident whale population in waters off Washington state. He's officially know by his scientific name L98. He was later dubbed Luna by a Seattle newspaper contest winner.

July 2001: Luna shows up alone in Nootka Sound, just days after Mowachaht-Muchalaht chief passes away.

October 2003: The Department of Fisheries and Oceans announces plans to relocate Luna from Nooka Sound to waters off Victoria where Luna's pod is expected to swim by. The hope is Luna will reunite with his family.

June 2004: Attempted capture for relocation of Luna with its American pod off southern Vancouver Island is prevented by local First Nation.

August 2004: Fisheries signs a $10,000 stewardship agreement with the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation.

Personals: Luna weights over 1,400 kilograms and is about the size of a sports utility vehicle.

Convictions: Two people have been convicted and fined in B.C. court for disturbing Luna.

Family: Southern resident whales are made of three pods called K, J and L. Two babies were born to the pods in the fall of 2004 bringing the total population to 85, not including Luna.

Source: Vancouver Sun

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