Follow the latest discussions on Luna

This page contains select e-mail messages to or from Susan Berta and Howard Garrett of Orca Network, a whale-sighting network, regarding L-98 (Luna), the Southern Resident juvenile orca who has been living alone in British Columbia for about a year. The purpose of posting these messages is to provide information and foster discussion on this orphaned orca. These messages are written by anyone who is interested in this animal. Therefore, the information contained in them cannot be verified and there is no guarantee that they accurate. For more information visit orcanetwork.org

How to use this page: The most recent postings are at the top of the page. To follow the beginning of the discussion, start at the bottom.

Check this page regularly; messages will continually be added as warranted.

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August 21

. . . we got a call this morning from Marc Pakenham of Canada's DFO that he'd heard reports of an unidentified pod of orcas off Nootka Sound yesterday afternoon (Aug. 20). We checked with Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research, and Ken said that J's, K's and some of L pod went by the west side of San Juan Island yesterday morning, heading north; but that the L2's, L9's and L12's were not with them (Luna's Mom is in the L12 subpod).

We are HOPING that maybe they are who was nosing around up near Nootka Sound, though unfortunately we believe Luna is too far into the sound to be able to hear vocalizations of whales off the coast of Vancouver Island. Ken also mentioned that about 80% of the sockeye run this year seems to be going north up the side of Vancouver Island to the Fraser River, so maybe that will draw the Southern Residents up that way more than usual. Now we need to figure out a way to get Luna at least as far as out to the mouth of Nootka Sound, where there would be some hope of L pod finding him if/when they travel up that way following the salmon.

Susan and Howie

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August 20: Second Report

Hi Susan and Howard,

Just wanted to add a few comments to Louise's observations. The problem in Nootka Sound, beyond the separation of L-98 from his pod, is the aggressive nature of the boaters in the area that continually attempt to provoke engaging behaviour from L-98. Boaters have many opportunities to understand the prohibition on contact.......from signs, brochures, Fisheries officers, RCMPolice and M3 crew. The past few weeks has seen fewer contacts between vessels and L-98, but some determined boaters, including a whalewatching company owner from the US, choose to ignore the warnings. Boaters now look for an opportunity to get with Luna when our M3 crew takes a meal break. M3 is on the water from early in the morning until sunset...very long days.

Having debriefed with the M3 crews, and collating the local anecdotal stories, it is apparent that Luna, L-98, is at considerable risk from an errant boaters' propellors. It is indeed difficult to intervene appropriately on Luna's behalf. Boaters now know why the M3 vessel is in the area and are often agitated on our approach which spurs them to speed away to elude us. Luna will get underneath the vessel and attempt to either clutch the bow with its pectoral fins and hang on, or just lift the bow and spin the vessel around. Sound disconcerting? Even the most experienced boat operator would have difficulty manoeuvring safely away.

The intervention may be working on one level...reducing the risk of injury to L-98, but is analagous to putting a prisoner in solitary. Stressful all round. Not sure one can state that Luna is lonely but these are social creatures by nature. Luna's zone in Nootka Sound is light on social opportunities. The best future for Luna is quite obviously reunification with his family. I'm sure we have all been encouraged by the news on Springer and Keiko. Luna ticks....time is of the essence.

For further information, please contact:
Marc Pakenham or Louise Murgatroyd
Marine Mammal Monitoring Program (M3)
www.salishsea.ca

Hi Susan,

Just a few comments with the L98 posting. The vessel being operated in the Nootka Sound area is a Marine Mammal Monitoring (M3) Program vessel jointly operated by DFO and the Veins of Life Watershed Society. I operated the vessel around L98 last week during which L98 engaged us a number of times - indeed we have had to intervene on several occasions to encourage him to leave boaters alone. Many boaters simply do not understand how difficult it is to disengage this whale once they have attracted him. Nor do they seem to appreciate the potential for charges under the Canadian Fisheries Act should they choose to engage L98 - this is the information we strongly reinforce to boaters in the area.

While operating the M3 vessel, I never had the sense that the whale was "pushing us away" at any time and I would be extremely hesitant to interpret through "feeling" that his behaviour indicates that he is "upset" with the M3 vessel. L98 engages every boat that will stop for him, and many that won't, and exhibits the spyhopping and pushing behaviours described in the posting. For more L98 information, subscribers can visit www.salishsea.ca which we are attempting, through extremely limited resources, to keep current with information on L98.

Cheers,
Louise V. Murgatroyd, Co-ordinator
Marine Mammal Monitoring Program (M3)

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August 20: First Report

Leigh Calvez just returned from a trip to Vancouver Island, where she missed Springer's return by one day, but she did get in a visit to see Luna, and shared her observations with us. Leigh reports that Luna is remaining very active, doing lots of breaching and swimming, and that the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans is doing a good job of educating people about the situation and keeping boats away from Luna (or trying to keep Luna away from boats!). She said there had been a report that Luna moved out of his usual zone of travel, and went toward a busy fishing resort, where there were lots of people, some swimming in the water with him. He did follow the DFO boat away from the resort and back to his usual area when they intervened, but Leigh felt it was clear that Luna is starved for company and very lonely. She said at one point Luna was between the DFO zodiac and a sailboat, and he went up and pushed the zodiac away, then swam over to the sailboat and spyhopped. She said she could just feel that he was upset with the DFO boat for trying to keep him away from people, which shows he is missing having a social life. Leigh said that there are plans to keep the DFO boat stationed in Nootka Sound through Sept. 15th, but no plans for after that have yet been announced.

The reports we've heard from those who have observed Luna this summer are all the same - that he is very lonely, much as Springer was in Puget Sound. Orcas are very social - and when they don't have their own kind around to be social with, they'll seek out humans for company.

We've hoped that L pod would swing up north and pick up Luna, though the Southern Residents don't typically go as far into Nootka Sound as Luna is stationed. Maybe it's time for a relocation effort to take place, to bring Luna down south to rejoin his Mom and pod. Matt Nichols of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders told us recently that he's ready to offer his boat to give Luna a ride; or maybe a boat-following method could be tried. There wouldn't have to be all the red tape of working across international borders, as Luna could be brought down to the southern tip of Vancouver Island to join L pod. There's no need for a net pen, medical examinations, etc. - he just needs to get home to Mom! It seems all that's needed is permission from Canada's DFO to give the green light and begin to put the necessary operations into place. They could save money by not having to patrol Nootka Sound. Existing boats such as Soundwatch and M3 could keep an eye on him down south, and I'm sure there would be instantaneous cooperation from private and commercial boaters to give lots of room to Luna and his pod, just as the effort up north has worked with Springer and her family. But it needs to happen soon - L pod will be traveling off in the fall, and it would be great to see Luna back with his family rather than have to spend another lonely winter in Nootka Sound....

Susan and Howie