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LUNA RELOCATION EFFORT PUT ON HOLD
Luna (L98), a juvenile killer whale, has been living alone at the mouth of Gold River in Nootka Sound since the spring of 2001. His interactions with people and boats have been putting both the public and the whale at risk.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), in collaboration with NOAA Fisheries (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) announced plans on April 5, 2004 to relocate Luna with his family (L-pod). DFO also announced that the reunification effort would be attempted with the help of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. The hope had been that Luna's pod would transit past Nootka Sound enabling Aquarium staff and local Fisheries Officers to lead Luna out to the pod to attempt reunification. That became impossible after L-Pod turned up in the San Juan/Juan de Fuca area, located much further south than Gold River. The Vancouver Aquarium was authorized to begin the physical relocation of Luna by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) on June 10, 2004. The plan involved leading Luna into a net pen, where he was to remain for roughly one week. While there, medical tests were to be run to ensure that he was free of any diseases that could be transfered to his pod. Once Luna received medical clearance, he was to be transported to the southern end of Vancouver Island, to Pedder Bay, just outside of Victoria. Luna would then have been placed into another net pen, until his family pod swam within acoustic range, at which point a release would have been attempted. These plans came to a halt on June 24, 2004, when DFO announced they would suspend the capture operation out of respect for the cultural and spiritual significance of Luna to the Mowachaht/ Muchalaht First Nations people, who want Luna to remain in Gold River.
Photos on this page are courtesy of Lance Barrett-Lennard, all rights reserved. |
