Luna Update

Friday, December 9, 2005
GOLD RIVER, BC — We haven’t sent in a report for a while because a group of several transient whales passed through Luna’s favourite territory, and after that no one saw Luna for a few days. We were a bit worried, but we didn’t want to pass those worries on. These concerns come up regularly and have so far been groundless and certainly not worth getting stirred up about, because Luna has many places to go and fish to meet.

That proved to be the case again this time. After being absent, Luna turned up just a few miles south of the place where the Uchuck III crew had last seen him a few days before. It is a bit farther from Gold River than his most familiar territory, but it’s an area he goes relatively frequently, presumably because the fishing is good there.

One of the interesting things about this other area is that it is within acoustic range of the mouth of Nootka Sound. From the area where I saw Luna, I could also see the Nootka Lightstation on the point of land beside Yuquot, at the edge of the open ocean. I could also see a flat patch of open sea beyond all the points of land. So from there it’s possible that he could hear L-pod if it came nearby.

Luna seemed quite energetic when I saw him. At one point he launched himself right out of the water, turned in the air and landed on his side with a huge splash. I had my camera pointed in the right direction for a change because I’d seen a plume of breath there moments before, so I got the whole thing on tape. Unfortunately, it was at full telephoto, so the video is horrendously bouncy. However, I’ve taken a few stills out of it and will send them in with this report in case Ryan wants to put some of them on the page so you can get an up-to-date look at this growing young orca.

Based on reports from Luna’s many friends and acquaintances up and down Nootka Sound, it appears that the past couple of weeks have not been much different from previous weeks, except for the relatively small change of location. About a week ago Luna spent yet another night working with a big log barge when it came in relatively close to Gold River, then rode back out to his familiar territory with one of his favourite tugs. He has also spent time near the Uchuck III and near the large landing craft that works throughout the Sound. Once recently when the two vessels were both tied up at one site with a few meters of open water between, Luna rested in that space, looking very mellow.

There is a good little community on the water looking out for Luna these days. From the lighthousekeepers, to the First Nation residents at Yuquot, to the men and women who work at the logging camps, to the First Nation shellfish farmers, to the tug operators who so often find Luna hitchhiking for miles beside their slow but powerful vessels, to the fish farmers, and particularly to the crews of the landing craft and the Uchuck III, Luna has many friends among the working people of the Sound.

Because their boats and ships are not fast, these people often get fairly close looks at Luna, and they keep a good eye on his condition and his energy levels. Suzanne and I have been lucky enough to get to know some of these people during the time we have spent on the water ourselves, and we have developed a great deal of respect for their hard work and their affectionate tolerance for the unusual young being who is often a bit of a pest but has nevertheless become a treasured part of life out here.

It is not unusual to go into the cabin or wheelhouse of one of the working vessels of the Sound and see whale literature and identification sheets on the chart table. All sympathize with Luna’s solitary predicament, and wish him a real whale life with his family, but at the same time they appreciate how remarkable it is to have him around.

Source: ReuniteLuna.com

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