Luna (Orca)

Luna (1999 - 2006) officially named L98 and also known as Tsuux-iit was an orca. After being separated from his mother as a toddler, he spent five years alone in Nootka Sound, off the west coast of Vancouver Island. His presence in the busy area, which delighted tourists but often brought him into conflict with boaters, led to years of controversy over whether he should be captured and returned to his family. Luna died on March 10 2006 after he was struck by the propeller of a tugboat.

Early life

Luna was born September 19, 1999 into the Southern Resident community in British Columbia, Canada and Washington, USA, in the year 1999. Born into the L1 pod, L2 matriline, consisting of matriarch Grace (L2), Orcan (L39), Gaia (L78), Wavewalker (L88) and mother Splash (L67), there was at first confusion as to who Luna's mother really was. His mother, Splash, was seen alone, and then for the next week, he traveled with Kiska (K18), a female in another pod. However, it was cleared up when, after that, he was seen at Splash's side constantly. A Seattle newspaper held a contest that ended with Luna being named Luna, the Latin term for moon.

In June-July 2001, when Luna was around two years old, he disappeared from his pod. His uncle Orcan died at about that time, and many people think that Luna was accompanying his uncle away from the pod when Orcan died, leaving Luna lost and alone. After Luna did not reappear, he was declared dead.

Nootka Sound

In July 2001, Luna was found alone in Nootka Sound. He was identified and named Tsux'iit by the Mowachaht/Muchalaht people of the area, after their late chief, who had said he wished to return as a killer whale.

From January-July 2002, however, everyone's attention was diverted from Luna. Another orphan calf had turned up, Springer (A73). Springer soon became the center of attention that year.

Soon, word began to leak out about the lone whale in Nootka Sound. Tourists arrived in droves at Gold River, a nearby town. Luna began to get too interested in boats, started to cause disturbances, and in some cases actually caused damage to vessels and a float plane. He also ended up with some minor injuries, probably from collision with boats. Some people were fined for disturbing the whale.

On June 15, 2004, the DFO began to try to lure Luna into a floating pen, to try to rehabilitate him like Springer had been. However, the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation was opposed to this, and successfully distracted Luna and lured him away from the pen every time, until finally on June 24, the DFO gave up.

The DFO and Mowachaht/Muchalaht met several times during 2004, until finally agreeing to jointly run the Luna Stewardship Program, to try to keep Luna out of trouble.

Luna survived four years alone in Nootka Sound, an area not usually frequented by orcas. A stewardship program was tentatively planned for 2005.

On March 10 2006, the young orca was killed when he was hit by the propeller of the ocean tugboat "General Jackson" in the Nootka Sound, off the west coast of Vancouver Island. It is believed that Luna went up to the tugboat intentionally, as he often did, to engage in playful activity. Underestimating the power of the vessel (tugboats have much more powerful engines than other ships of their size), he was pulled into the blades and subsequently died.

Further reading

*cite book |last=Francis |first=Daniel |authorlink=|coauthors=Gil Hewlett |title= Operation Orca: Springer, Luna and the Struggle to Save West Coast Killer Whales|year= 2007|publisher= Harbour Publishing|location= |isbn=1550174266
* [http://www.lunastewardship.com Luna Stewardship Site]
* [http://www.orcas.net/gallery2/v/Orcas/PacNW-200506/Luna/ Photos of Luna - June 2005]