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WHALES |
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Luna killed by propellerposted 3/10/2006
Kari Koski of The Whale Museum spent a lot of time with the whale in the past five years. She said, "This is really sad. I wish we could do better in all situations like this. These situations are hard to resolve in a way where we've done right by the wildlife." Luna/Tsuux-iit was a member of L pod, a group of killer whales which frequent the San Juans. He became separated from the rest of his pod in 2001 when he stayed behind in Nootka Sound. He became known for playing with boats and Canadian officials became concerned about safety. A plan, devised to reunite him with his pod, was abandoned after objections by First Nations. The Mowachaht/Muchalaht people believed the whale was the reincarnation of their late Chief Ambrose Maquinna and they preferred to let nature take its course. Koski said different ad hoc groups were still working to try to resolve the problem of Luna/Tsuux-iit being away from his pod and interacting with boats. The efforts centered around the idea of luring Luna to the opening of the Sound when L Pod would be in the vicinity with the hopes he would rejoin his pod. "A lot of people were hoping for him." she said. DFO: Luna capture deferredposted 06/26/04
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Desperately seeking L podStory by Sharon Kivisto
posted 05/26/04
The Canadian Department of Fisheries is leading the effort to reunite Luna with his pod. Luna's interactions with boaters and kayakers is dangerous according to Marilyn Joyce, DFO Marine Mammal Coordinator Pacific Region. She explained the two strategies for reunification at a symposium at Rosario Resort in April. (See story below). At a whale symposium May 15, 2004 in Friday Harbor, The Whale Museum Director Rich Osborne explained the situation. He said, "Luna started to get rather rambunctious. He comes up to boats and push on the front of them." He said people involved in the Reunite Luna project hope the soft approach will work. "We hope Luna will want to be a killer whale once again and hang out with his family," he said. "We're all focused on the soft release. There is a lot of controversy around the hard release. The First Nations do not want him to be hard captured. He showed up at the same time they lost one of their chiefs. One of the things the chief wanted to do was come back as a killer whale and stop the fish farms. We don't know if the First Nations will allow the hard capture." With permission from Mowachaht/Muchalaht Chief Mike Maquinna, OrcaLab has set up monitoring equipment around Nootka Sound. David Howitt of OrcaLab said on May 15, 2004, the observers hadn't seen any interaction between Luna and boats in the previous six weeks. There hasn't been any interaction between the whale and float planes in the past six months. He noted there are many less boats in the spring than in the summer. Last year Luna interfered with workers trying to install more fish farm pens in the sound, he said. Howitt said the Council of Chiefs plan a memorial potlatch next year for Chief Ambrose Maquinna. They expect Tsuux-iit to be around for that. An unprecedented effort is underway to locate L pod, Osborne said. There are commercial and military personnel keeping an eye out for the pod. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, DFO, Vancouver Marine Aquarium and The Whale Museum are all working together on the reunification project. If Luna is reunited with his pod, The Whale Museum will take on the job of monitoring and protecting the whale when it is around the San Juans. "We'll have a one kilometer zone around Luna and his family where we'll monitor his movements," Osborne said. Outside of that zone, Soundwatch and another boat will be used to keep boaters at least two kilometers away from Luna. "We'll try to keep a buffer for two weeks," he said. "If he starts to get into trouble, the monitoring boat will lead him back into his pod." The entire project including the monitoring to is expected to cost approximately $500,000. The project is still $100,000 short. |
DFO: Luna capture deferredposted 06/26/04
We understand the cultural and spiritual significance of Luna to the Mowachaht/ Muchalaht First Nation and to First Nations generally. We have had a number of discussions with them and have attempted to accommodate their needs and views in our operations. It is evident however, that further discussions are required, and in the interest of public safety and the well-being of the whale, we will be meeting with First Nations over the coming days to review options. Consequently, for the time being, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is deferring operations to relocate the whale. Public safety remains the immediate concern, particularly in light of the whale’s increasingly people-friendly behaviour. We appeal to all people to avoid interaction with the whale. We would like to thank the Vancouver Aquarium, its crew and the many other volunteers who have assisted with operations over the past days. Their assistance and support have been invaluable. We look forward to productive discussions with the First Nations and are hopeful that a resolution that is agreeable to all parties can be found. Luna led to Mooyah Bayposted 06/19/04
First Nations lead Luna away from netposted 06/17/04
The Mowachaht/Muchalaht people believe the whale embodies the spirit of their late Chief who had told several people he wanted to return as a killer whale and stop the fish farming in Nootka Sound. The whale showed up alone in the sound the same week the chief died in 2001. The Luna Stewardship Project Web site has daily updates on the efforts to return the whale to L-pod. Luna capture delayed at least until June 16posted 06/11/04
The capture phase will not begin until the holding pens and other physical and organizational logistics are in place. Due to some issues with net weight, the decision was made Saturday, June 12 to install a different net that will hold Luna in Gold River. Crews worked in rain Saturday and Sunday to bring in and install the new net. There are currently three nets set up. A hexagonal shaped pen is the net into which Luna will be led (the preferred method of capture). A second net is where Luna will be held prior to transport, and the third is to hold the live salmon that he will be fed. Crews were completing the task of securing nets and finalizing logistics Monday. Tuesday, June 15 will be devoted to crew training and practice runs with the capture phase expected to begin Wednesday, June 16. This date may change if all parts of the physical installation and crew training are not complete. For all the latest information on Luna's relocation effort, please visit vanaqua.org/aquanews/ LatestOnLuna.html |
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Donations can made on line through: Donations can be mailed to:
Earlier this week, Osborne said Luna had been led to open ocean and back by DFO boats. Everyone is hoping L pod shows up soon so the soft approach has a chance to work, he said. Osborne believed the Mowachaht/Muchalaht's opposition to the hard approach may have lessened and they would allow it to happen if the soft approach didn't work. (Phone calls left by this reporter to Chief Mike Maquinna and Marilyn Joyce of DFO for more information were not returned.) More information about Luna is available on: Article by Brian Tate: Mowachaht/Muchalaht meet with DFO Other Web sites: Plan B: Luna to be caughtposted 06/11/04
After looking at the movements of L-pod over the past few weeks, and confirming that plans are in place to proceed, DFO approved the initiation of Phase II, the physical relocation. Public safety and the safety of the whale remain the priorities. Recent incidences in Gold River where L98 interfered with floatplanes and boats, affirms that the situation needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Sightings of L-pod in the Juan de Fuca Strait and Haro Strait over the past few weeks indicate that the pod has returned to the area for the summer, and the chances for a natural reunification of L98 to L-pod are no longer viable. Vancouver Aquarium staff continue to prepare the site and operational logistics for the safe capture, holding, and care of Luna (L98). Although all required funds are not in hand at this point, DFO and the Aquarium agree there are sufficient funds to begin the capture and transport of Luna to Pedder Bay. Overall funding needs ultimately depend on how long Luna is held in Pedder Bay before acoustical contact is made with his pod, and he can be released. If this period is relatively short, the current funding provided will be sufficient. As this time frame is impossible to predict, DFO and the Aquarium will continue to seek funding, even as the operation proceeds. Donations can be made online through: The US and Canadian Governments have each committed $130K, $60K in cash has been donated, and there has been $290K in in-kind donations. Given the situation with Luna in Gold River, DFO and the Aquarium believe the operation must proceed immediately. The plan involves leading Luna into a net pen; this is likely to take place over several days, as time is needed to allow Luna to get used to the log booms, boat and other parts of the operation . Success will depend, in part, on having a quiet and normal environment. For this reason, an exclusion zone for boats and aircraft will be in place. A media update will be provided each day by the capture team describing what was attempted and accomplished that day. While it is hoped that Luna will reunite with his family group and no longer be a risk to the public, scientists agree that, while a successful reintroduction cannot be guaranteed, this is the best approach to give Luna the opportunity to reunite with his pod, while protecting public. The best way the public can help Luna is to stay away. If he is distracted by boats, aircraft or people, his chances for reuniting with his family group may be compromised. It's time to help Luna go home
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