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Luna (L98) was born near San Juan Island in Puget Sound, British Columbia, on the 19th of September 1999, his mother was Splash (L67). Both Orcas are part of the L 2 matriline.

The orca matriline system works this way. Female and young male Orcas tend to remain in their own pods, these are usually run by the oldest matriarchal female, very similar to the matriarchal system elephants use. Breeding usually occurs when two pods of differing matriarchal lines meet up. This ensures no interpod breeding occurs.

Pods generally consist of related individuals; brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins all make up a pod’s membership.

Not long after the birth of Luna, K pod arrived in Puget Sound and they travelled for a while with the L pod and Luna was seen quite healthy and happy.

Problems arose in June of 2001 when a census was carried out by the Centre for Whale Research in the San Juan Island area; Luna was found to be missing and presumed dead, however in July of that same year Luna showed up healthy and well.



Luna in Nootka SoundIn the fall of 2001 the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada, was informed of the presence of a killer whale (Orca) in Nootka Sound, this

turned out to be Luna. It was assumed Luna had wandered off with an uncle who had died suddenly leaving Luna on his own with no knowledge of how to find his pod again. Having wandered Luna had found his way to Nootka Sound. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans decided to sit back and see if Luna would leave the area of his own accord.

Problems arose when Chief Ambrose Maquinna of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation expressed a wish to come back as an Orca; Luna's arrival was seen as this desire being fulfilled. To compound the problems, word of Luna's arrival also leaked out and tourists began to arrive to see the Orca.

All this attention was very much to the young Orcas liking and he began to develop a keen interest in the boats and float planes now visiting the area. Luna found that more attention could be gained by hanging around the dock area of the sound.

Lonely Luna

Lonely Luna

Not all of this attention however was healthy, under Canadian law it is illegal to disturb or approach marine mammals and fines of up to $10,000 can be imposed. Despite this, tourists still insisted on petting Luna, brushing his teeth, and feeding him junk food and beer. Some people even went as far as to threaten Luna's life. The Luna Stewardship Project was launched to protect and monitor Luna.

In the fall of 2002 attempts were made to convince government agencies that Luna should be moved to Southern Vancouver Island or Puget Sound where there was a better chance of him regaining contact with his pod. The DFO decided to maintain their ‘wait and see’ attitude.