LUNA’S STORY: CLASH OVER A LOST WHALE YV Introduction In the predawn light, Corky and Orky, kayak, nearly caused a floatplane crash, Focus two killer whales, would play a game— and interfered with salmon fishers. This News in Re- their own game. They’d choose a spot So, in June 2004, 25 orca experts view story focuses on the side of their tank, blow water at gathered to enact what they considered on the ongoing it, and then touch it gently with their to be a solid plan that held little risk for story of Luna, a lost killer whale (orca), tongues. When dawn broke, the first Luna and would be best for both the and the debate beams of sunlight invariably hit the animal and the public. They planned to about whether or spot. As the year went on, the spot lure Luna into a net, complete medical not we should would move, yet the whales always tests to ensure he was healthy, put him interfere with predicted correctly. in a tank on a truck, place him in a net nature to reunite Humans have learned through close enclosure, and then let him loose when him with his family. observation that the killer whale is his pod came near. Luna would be intelligent, loyal, talkative, and playful— equipped with a tracking device that not just a “killer.” We have learned these would aid in the scientists’ understand- Further Research things, however, because we have taken ing of whale behaviour during the To learn more about the DFO and whales from the wild and put them in winter months when they disappear its policies and aquariums. There are many games that from local waters. programs, visit Corky and Orky could not play because Everything was on track. Then, 17 www.dfo- those games required an ocean. members of the Mowachaht-Muchalaht mpo.gc.ca. There is Should we be interfering in wild First Nation climbed into a traditional excellent informa- killer whale populations? Despite the dugout canoe, and, by banging on the tion about species good that comes when children see a sides of their canoe, beating drums, and at risk and even a killer whale up close, despite the ben- singing traditional songs, lured Luna— fun page of activi- efits to scientific knowledge, is it right whom they call Tsu-xiit—away from ties for students. to keep a whale in an aquarium? There the scientists trying to capture him and are many valid arguments on both sides. toward Yuquot, a traditional village. YV Sections One group that believes we shouldn’t Within 10 days, they’d accomplished marked with this be interfering with killer whales at all is their task: the operation was indefinitely symbol indicate the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation. delayed, and the Department of Fisher- content suitable for In summer 2004, they made a stand. ies and Oceans (DFO) agreed to work younger viewers. Luna was born September 19, 1999. with them. In the eyes of the Mowachaht- His mother is Splash; his grandmother Muchalaht, they had accomplished a great is Grace. He has three brothers: Orcan, thing: they had kept Luna free. Gaia, and Wavewalker, and they all They had also won the right to par- belong to L pod in southern B.C. wa- ticipate in discussions with the DFO to ters. Luna got lost near Golden River, create a new plan for the whale. People B.C., and over the course of three years whose ancestors had travelled and he was so friendly with humans that he fished upon the waters of Nootka Sound became a danger to himself and to for thousands of years were taking a step people. He seemed to like boats, rub- in what they viewed as their rightful shoes bing against them like a cat. He has as stewards of that environment. disabled some boats, prevented others Yet Luna still posed a danger to the from docking, nearly overturned a public. What could be done? To Consider 1. What potential benefits could come from putting whales in captivity? What harm could come from it? CBC News in Review • September 2004 • Page 43 LUNA’S STORY: CLASH OVER A LOST WHALE YV Video Review Part I Complete the questions in Part I 1. Why are killer whales known as one of the most ferocious predators of of this exercise the sea? while reviewing the video. Later you can attempt the 2. What is the killer whale’s other name? ___ ___ ___ ___ second part of the exercise. 3. How do killer whales stay together? Further Research 4. After Luna got lost, what community did he go to? To learn more about whales in general, visit 5. What did Luna do to become a nuisance? The Whale Mu- seum: www.whale museum.org 6. What plan did the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) come up Orca Lab: with to solve the problem? www.orcalab.org The Centre for Whale Research: www.whale research.com. 7. Why did the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation oppose the DFO plan? 8. What other whale was moved in recent years? Was that operation a success? Why or why not? 9. How did the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation frustrate the DFO plan? 10. What did the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation propose as an alterna- tive to the DFO plan? 11. What happened at a Texas SeaWorld Adventure Park in July 2004? 12. What does the SeaWorld incident reveal about the potential risks of human-whale interaction? CBC News in Review • September 2004 • Page 44 13. What did the DFO and Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation agree to do in the short term? 14. In your opinion, what should be done with Luna? Explain. Part II For each of the following in column A, choose the right answer from column B, and write its number in the blank on the left. The first one has been done for you. A B _2 _ what killer whales eat 1. Ky ____ the First Nation that protested 2. fish, squid, sea birds, seals, polar the DFO plan to move Luna bears, other whales ____ Luna’s adopted home 3. Mowachaht-Muchalaht ____ what the Mowachaht-Muchalaht 4. 50 kilometres an hour learned 5. more understanding of bureaucracy ____ how fast a killer whale can swim 6. junk food and beer ____ how the DFO and Mowachaht- 7. more understanding of Muchalaht plan to look after Luna Mowachaht-Muchalaht traditions and together culture ____ what people have been feeding 8. the town of Gold River Luna 9. joint stewardship plan ____ the killer whale who behaved aggressively at a Texas SeaWorld Adventure Park ____ what the DFO officials learned CBC News in Review • September 2004 • Page 45 LUNA’S STORY: CLASH OVER A LOST WHALE YV Profile of the Killer Whale It may seem surprising that the killer offspring of her daughters and grand- Definitions whale—which is quite small, as whales daughters. Males and females mate with Orcinus orca: the go—is considered the supreme predator whales from other pods during huge genus and species of the killer whale of the seas. The baleen whales, though social gatherings a few times a year, but orca: another name much larger, are filter feeders. They always leave these gatherings with their for killer whale strain huge mouthfuls of water through own pod. So whales grow up with their cetaceans: all baleen—fringed whalebone plates—to mothers, aunts, sisters, uncles, and whales, dolphins, catch truckloads of tiny krill (shrimp- brothers, but not their fathers. and porpoises. like creatures) and tiny fish. These sea mammals have little hair, The killer whale, on the other hand, Communication forelimbs that serve has teeth. It hunts the oceans in packs, What helps killer whales maintain such as flippers, teeth, like wolves do on land. Of all the strong social bonds? Communication is and a flat tail. creatures in the ocean, only the killer the key. Killer whales, like other whale has the audacity and the capabil- whales, have a highly evolved capabil- ity to hunt down a great blue whale, the ity to communicate through sound. largest animal on Earth. They squeal, groan, whistle, and click Although they are one of the smaller to tell each other what is going on. For whales, orcas still appear massive— example, they might say that they see especially when seen up close. Females plenty of fish over here, or that they’re can grow to seven metres in length and not feeling well. Orcas are in almost 4 000 kilograms in weight. Males can continual communication with one grow to nine and a half metres and another, even when far apart. 8 000 kilograms. A male’s dorsal fin Whales also make sounds to navigate can stand nearly two metres tall. Orca the ocean depths. They use echoloca- calves are usually more than two metres tion—bouncing sound off objects—to long at birth, and weigh about 150 tell how far away objects are, much like kilograms. That’s some big baby! bats do when they fly at night. The killer whale’s echolocation capability is A Social Animal staggeringly accurate. They navigate Orca social bonds begin at birth and last through pitch-black water with ease and their whole lives. A baby orca will start recognize individuals by their “sound swimming behind its mother’s dorsal pictures.” fin, where it nurses, and where it will Although killer whales can swim continue to swim for its whole life. virtually anywhere in the ocean, they do Orca society is matrilineal.