Lost Orca No 'Free Willy'

by Hanna Lee

The male killer whale L98, also known as "Luna," is spending another lonely winter away from his family. In response, efforts at relocating him have resulted in a flurry of fundraising, research and calculated planning by organizations such as the Orca Network, Orca Conservancy, People for Puget Sound and the newly formed Luna Stewardship Project. Taking Luna home may seem a fairly straightforward matter, but the problems surrounding the young whale's behavior and interaction with humans render the job difficult, wrought with many complications that make careful planning absolutely critical.

The widely attended Forum on Luna at the Seattle Aquarium last October brought the situation surrounding the this special whale to public attention in a number of talks given by different people who had been working with Luna for a very long time. As a result of the forum, the importance of the Luna issue has become clear, addressing much more than just the carefree life of a single majestic animal.

Four-year-old Luna, who was first seen off of Nootka Sound in 2001, is believed by scientists to have been separated from his family and was unable to return home to his pod, known as the L-Pod, which presently numbers only 42 individuals and is part of the southern resident community (consisting of the J, K and L pods), which has been in decline over the past several years. The Canadian government has designated Luna's family as endangered. Luna's mother, L67, was seen off the west side of San Juan Island earlier in the month with a new calf. The L pod is known to be an extended family with strong social connections, also connected acoustically with surrounding pods along the coast, which leads scientists to believe that Luna's chances of reconnecting acoustically with the L pod are hopeful.

Highly social and extremely intelligent, orcas communicate through a complex series of vocalizations unique to not only their pod but to several others which use similiar sounds to communicate. Due to this networking mechanism, prospects for Luna's reunion with his family are looking hopeful.

Presently on his own and freely roaming the waters off Gold River, British Columbia, Luna appears healthy and is doing well--but divorced of the social life he is meant to enjoy with his own pod, he has over time developed an attachment to all things human: speedboats, fishermen and fishing gear, and other stimuli to entertain his playful tendencies. Recently, this attraction has become potentially dangerous to both Luna and the public. Some locals in Gold River have tried to respect the orca's need to be "wild" and independent of human association, but others have aggravated a worsening situation, approaching Luna, trying to pet him, and in one incident, even pouring beer into his mouth. Environmentalists describe the daily groups of orca-seekers as a "circus."

Luna has become labeled by angry fishermen and boaters in Gold River as a troublemaker intent on jamming propellers, and rendering boats unnavigable. In late August, Luna swam too close to one boat and emerged with deep cuts in his flesh. "People won't stay away from Luna, and Luna can't seem to stay away from people," stated Marilyn Joyce of the DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada).

The barriers to his successful relocation are many and formidable; not the least of which is the lack of funding for the project. The exact amount needed to assess Luna's health, release and then monitor and track him after release could total as much as $300,000, and even if the relocation is successful, there is no guarantee that the project's aim to "rewild" Luna will be fulfilled. Whale advocates will need to raise money, plan relocation and then move Luna, but the timeframe in which to accomplish all three is dauntingly short. Luna's pod migrates out of the vicinity by March.

It appears that Canada's DFO and Senator Maria Cantwell from Washington State have recently been able to allocate about $100,000 toward moving Luna closer to his pod in hopes that he will be reunited with them in the spring.

The plan for Luna's reunification with his pod would be implemented in several phases, calling for a variety of considerations and expertise. Luna would first be captured and held before transport while his health is assessed and he gradually becomes habituated to living apart from human disturbance.

Advocates at the Seattle forum made repeated emphasis that it is critical that no humans are present when he is freed from his netpen to find his pod. Fitted with a radio and satellite tag, he will be tracked by scientists monitoring his status and interactions with his environment. The challenge will be to follow his movements while also keeping him away from people.

Many "what ifs" surround the outcome of Luna's fate. The possibility looms that the whale may never connect vocally with his pod, which would certainly be a disappointment. Even more important than his reunification with his family, however, is that he be allowed to live in the wild, apart from the unnatural disturbances that currently hinder Luna from living the life meant for a killer whale.

Many government officials and a vast majority of the public are still inclined to ask: what is the point of it all? Viewed through the lens of the relationship between man and nature, the message of the Luna problem should be quite clear, and it is that man's so called respect for nature does not manifest itself in the "myth of Free Willy". It is most powerful in the hands-off approach, to let nature be nature, and to let the wild be wild.

US Residents can send tax-deductible contributions to The Whale Museum/Luna Stewardship Project, P.O. Box 945, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For further info: 1.800.946.7227 x24 or x28. To get involved, visit: www.whalemuseum.org, www.orcanetwork.org, www.lunastewardship.com, www.reuniteluna.com.

WWW Washington Free Press