Anybody following Luna's story?

http://www.orcanetwork.org/news/luna.html

I hope all goes well for him.

edited to update a dead link

This message was edited Jun 13, 2004 11:29 AM

We hear a lot about him, he's up around where Jeanne lives.

I don't always catch his story but have followed it off and on for awhile.... please let us know how it works out.

Luna's living in Gold River on the west coast of Vancouver Island. That's about an hour drive from here. He's doing fine, just causing a lot of havoc with the seaplanes.

I'm glad your posting brugcrazy and that all is still well with him! Are they any closer to raising the funds to move him?

It's not looking good. They need way more money and I think time is running out. I just saw something about that on the news last night. The rest of his pod should be heading up to Robson bight soon, I would think.

They go right in front of my house. A couple of years ago there was a Superpod frolicking for hours just off the south end of Quadra Island. It was amazing to watch. Even though I see the whales a lot, I'm always in awe of them. Such amazing creatures.

I'm crossing fingers that something good will happen. Thanks for the update Brugcrazy.

According to the paper today, they are going to try and get him into a pen soon, and then truck him down to where his family has been seen. I guess he almost had a bit of a run-in with a floatplane this week, so best get him with his family and we can hope that goes well.

Glenda

Hi Glenda!! :) I'm so happy to see your post.
It's good to hear they are going to try it...I was starting to think they had given up on him. Please let us know how it goes.

According to the paper today, they are going to try and lure Luna into a pen on Tuesday. They will then keep him there and do tests to make sure he has no diseases(about a week), and then if all is okay, they will truck him down to Pedder Bay, close to the area where his pod has been seen. Hopefully, they will then be able to let him loose if all goes well and the pod is around.
Will keep you posted.

Glenda

Thanks Glenda!! :)

From today's local paper:

Luna's free-swimming days numbered
Overly friendly orca is becoming a hazard, so he'll have to go

Judith Lavoie
Times Colonist


June 14, 2004


The small net pen is in place beside the dock in Gold River, reporters and scientists are gathering in the remote Vancouver Island community and Luna the over-friendly orca is paying regular visits to the waterfront.

But the Department of Fisheries and Oceans remains unsure whether the first attempt to capture the five-metre killer whale will be made Tuesday, as planned, or delayed until the following day.

"It's probably Tuesday, but possibly Wednesday. It's all about getting the net pens safety-checked and doing a dry run with the crew," said DFO spokeswoman Lara Sloan.

The plan is to persuade four-year-old Luna to follow his favourite DFO Zodiac into the net pen and then close it behind him.

If he swims in calmly and adjusts well to the octagonal pen, efforts will be made to move him into a smaller pen, on loan from a fish farm. Vancouver Aquarium scientists, who are leading the operation, believe he will be safer in a small pen, which can be quickly pulled up if there is any sign of trouble.

Luna, who moved into Nootka Sound three years ago, is apparently pining for attention and cuddles up to boats and floatplanes. Although he spent the last few months in the relatively quiet waters of Mooya Bay, he recently followed a tug back into Gold River and is again becoming a hazard, which is why he has to be moved, Sloan said.

Provided the capture goes smoothly, the killer whale will spend about a week in the net pen while health checks and blood tests are done, to ensure he is not carrying any communicable disease.

He will then be put in a tank on a flatbed truck and driven slowly along the winding roads to Campbell River and then down the Island Highway to a net pen in Metchosin where he will be in acoustic range of his family.

L Pod spends much of the summer eating salmon in Juan de Fuca Strait and it is hoped they will welcome Luna back into the fold and dissuade him from his fascination with people and boats.

Marc Pakenham, through the Marine Mammal Monitoring program, in conjunction with the Centre for Whale Research in Friday Harbour, will be doing much of the work shooing away sightseers when Luna is released in busy waters near Victoria.

Pakenham believes the pod will do much of the work in keeping Luna safe.

Springer, the young orca moved from Puget Sound to rejoin his family in Johnstone Strait two years ago, was given a crash course in whale behaviour by relatives, he said. "There was family conditioning. The whales would get between Springer and the boat and push her away."

Although there is general agreement that Luna must be moved -- despite some risks -- nervous ripples are running through those involved in the operation.

"I know there's a lot of nervousness, but I believe this is the right decision. I hope to see a lot less of Luna," Pakenham said.


GLenda

Thank you so very, very much Glenda!! His story has captivated me and I am so glad that they have decided that the move had to be done. I appreciate the thorough coverage you have posted! :D

Looks like they are now going to try for tomorrow to get Luna into the pen. They want to make sure everything is just right. Doesn't appear as though they will have too much trouble luring him inside the net. He has been "HELPING" them while they have been getting set up!!!!

Glenda

LOL ..... I hope L Pod finds and adopts him quickly!!

Things change so quickly. Luna has been led away from Nootka Sound by native canoes. Here is a link to the latest story on CBC:

http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_luna_noon20040616

Glenda

I tried the link earlier but my computer wouldn't load it. This time I was able to read it. :(

Apparently they lured him about 20 kilometers away. Havent' heard anything on the news tonight, so no idea what will be happening tomorrow.

Glenda

I heard the news story yesterday. I gather the technique is to interfere enough that the DFO runs out of budget funds to continue the relocation. Seems they believe is a recently departed chief returned in the body of the whale. Looks like some serious negotiations should be done quickly.

I agree...I think Luna will be hurt by any more interference! :(

Luna still out at sea. Enjoying his salmon!

http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_luna_two20040617

Glenda

Luna is still out with the First Nations canoes, and DFO is going to wait until Monday and re-evaluate capture then.

Linda

You think if he follows vessels that well they could have him follow them out to where the pod is...is it possible from where he is now?

Luna is about 600mi up the west coast of the island, and the L pod is somewhere near the SE tip of Vancouver island. He's still in fairly sheltered waters, and I don't know, if anyone knows, what he'd do in the open ocean and for so many days following boats.

I just want him wild and safe, away from people.

Linda

Amen to that! As much as his friendliness has captured our attention, in our gut we know something will go horribly wrong if he doesn't get back to his pod.

New story in the local paper today about Luna. I think everyone should be able to read it, as access to this site has not been limited yet. And a wonderful picture of Luna!!

http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/news/story.html?id=0fb7e5aa-c903-4cd6-91d7-dc58c13efb6e

Glenda

What a wonderful picture Glenda...thank you for posting that article. :D I'm glad to see they are thinking of Luna's best interests!

Thanks Glenda, for posting that info. I've been trying to follow what's happening.

Friends of mine took the Uchuck to Kyuquot last week and on the way back, Luna was following the boat for most of the day. She came right up beside the boat but left before getting back to Gold River. I guess she does this a lot.

New story on Luna in the National POst. I will link to the website, hopefully it will work. If not, just go to nationalpost.com

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=951de52c-5293-49d3-bb1b-a2394438a2c2

Glenda

That is what worries me the most. I wish the natives would try moving him out now! :(

edited to say thank you for the link Glenda. :)

This message was edited Jul 26, 2004 4:53 PM

Another friend was up working out of Gold River on Monday and said Luna is just hanging around Nootka Sound. He was installing a satellite dish for high speed internet on a fish farm up in Nootka Sound. Luna followed their boat, is looking very healthy. Just an update.

Hopefully he will stay out of Gold River, and harm's way.Glad he's looking healthy.

Linda

Crossing fingers and toes!!

Luna's pod has been spotted close by again, so there is some renewed hope that he can possibly be re-united with his family. Keep your fingers and toes crossed!!!

Glenda

Hi Glenda,

Thanks for the info. We will be rootin' for him!

They are crossed! :)

Very sad news re: Luna today.

http://www.cbc.ca/bc/story/bc_luna20060310.html

:'( Often thought about him and went by *no news is good news*. It's a shame they couldn't have gotten Luna out to the pod.

Thank you for the final update.

I was saddened to hear of his accident with the propeller...........the Fisheries dep't was totally concerned with this.....talk about a sweet wonder, communicating with the boats.....like one human to another! Elaine