U.S. to Help Reunite Mischievous Young Orca With Pod

by Patricia Collier

Efforts will begin in the spring to relocate "Luna", a 4-year-old orca whale, who has been pestering boaters in Canada's Nootka Sound. The young killer whale will be transferred to more tropical digs in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Luna, known to researchers as L98, has lived in the sound for more than two years, but his quest to make friends with area boaters has placed humans - and himself - in danger.

One official involved in the project said Luna recently was bouncing a sea plane one day, "just for fun."

That kind of playful behavior could have proven deadly to everyone involved.

Scientists said Luna became separated from his family in 2000 and has been living as an orphan. He is highly intelligent and social and they fear the longer he attempts to bond with humans, he will lose his ability to interact with other killer whales.

A good solution, they said, will be to reunite Luna with his pod since his mother and a younger sibling are both still alive.

Funds from the National Marine Fisheries Service won't cover Luna's relocation expenses, so the United States has pledged $100,000 toward the effort. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), announced October 30 they will match the funding from the U.S.

Officials from DFO said they will not attempt to relocate Luna until next spring, when he can more successfully be reunited with his pod.

"Given that the opportunities for L98 to connect with his pod diminish rapidly as winter approaches, our best chance for a successful reintroduction will be to wait until the spring when L98's pod returns to these transboundary waters," said Dr. John Ford, head
marine mammal scientist with DFO's Pacific Region.

"Our goal is to undertake the relocation in a manner that will maximize the likelihood of a successful reintroduction. Rushing relocation at this time presents a very uncertain outcome," Ford said.

If efforts to reintroduce Luna to his pod are not successful, Ford said other alternatives, such as captivity, will be explored.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.