The trouble with Luna

Times Colonist
July 7, 2005

Luna the lonely orca is up to his old tricks in Nootka Sound, getting far too friendly with boats -- which means that he is once again putting himself in danger, and human lives at risk.

The orphaned five-year-old whale spent five minutes lifting, pushing, and turning a boat last week, terrifying the two men on board. The boat was only 4.6 metres, smaller and much lighter than the whale itself.

It was the first report this year of Luna toying with a boat, and we should hope that it's not a sign that he is getting back into his old habits.

Last year, Luna became fixated on an 11-metre gillnetter during a salmon fishery. He disabled the boat twice in two days, causing $4,000 in damage.

He played with another boat three different times, causing damage that put it out of action. He held a sailboat hostage for 12 hours. The list goes on.

Luna has been hanging around Nootka Sound since July 2001. The whale -- officially, his name is L98 -- was born in September 1999, and the theory is that he followed an uncle into the sound and couldn't find a way out.

It didn't take Luna long to make new friends with the boats that frequent the Gold River area. He's been jostling them since soon after he arrived, and as he's grown bigger, he's become more of a threat.

It's relatively easy for Luna to leave a boat without power or steering. He's also capable of tipping a boat or a kayak, throwing its occupants into the water. The combination of a playful whale and the cold water mean the odds of survival wouldn't be great.

Last year, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Vancouver Aquarium tried to reunite Luna with his family in Juan de Fuca Strait. The attempt failed after the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation lured him away from the net pen with canoes.

The band believes Luna is the embodiment of the spirit of dead chief Ambrose Maquinna and wants the whale left alone. It is asking Ottawa for $176,000 this year to pay for a stewardship program that would keep Luna away from boats.

A bear or a cougar that is causing problems would be relocated or killed, but those aren't realistic options in Luna's case.

But unless Luna is controlled, someone could be seriously injured or killed. Then what do we do?