Information on Luna the Resident Killer Whale in Nootka Sound

LUNA

Luna is our newly acquired resident in Nootka Sound. He is a juvenile southern resident Killer Whale from L pod, one of three southern resident Killer Whale pods. His real name is L 98 and he is very healthy and in good condition with clean water and plenty of food. Luna has been in Nootka Sound since the summer of 2001. Luna's mother is still alive and Luna is within his pod's known range. It is hoped that sometime this summer (2002) L pod will again make it way towards Nootka Sound at which time Luna will (hopefully) hook up with his family. Luna is obviously very lonely and it is our hope along with all the locals in Nootka Sound that he is able to swim with his family once again and receive the love and attention he deserves. Luna is very inteligent as witnessed by his playful splashing of humans with his fins. He also likes to squirt faces with his air hole. He has been known to retrieve a fender when tossed in the water. Luna even pushes boats around in circles for fun. Never before has a wild animal become so taken by humans and bonded with them the way Luna has. Alas though, this is not a good thing and locals are trying to stay away from Luna in the hopes that he will travel around Nootka Sound eventually meeting up with another one of his own or even his own pod that has made its way back looking for him. Its not sure what the consequences of Luna's contact with humans will be, but one can only hope that it doesn't shorten his life or his freedom.

Update: Luna was killed in 2006 by the propeller of a large tug boat towing a load of logs through Zucairte Channel. The crew of the tug boat knew Luna well and were devestated by his death.

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Lunas Belly.

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