Luna may spend winter alone

Friday, October 24, 2003

Luna may spend winter alone
Lack of money could delay plans to reunite orca with his pod

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- A lack of cash could sink this year's plan to reunite a killer whale living off the British Columbia coast with his pod in American waters.

The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans and both groups that propose to move 4-year- old Luna have concluded spring could be a better time to make the move.

"We're looking at a new approach where Luna can be left in Nootka Sound over the winter with monitoring to give the groups time to raise funds," fisheries department spokeswoman Lara Sloan told Canadian Press yesterday.

The department likes the proposals of two groups -- the Vancouver Aquarium and a Seattle-based organization -- to undertake the move. But although both have the expertise for the job, neither has the money.

"I'd rather have more time to make sure all the ducks are in a row before we undertake this thing," said Bob McLaughlin, president of Seattle-based Global Research and Rescue. "This is not going to be a simple process."

Luna has spent most of his life on his own off the west coast of Vancouver Island at Gold River.

But the orca has become increasingly sociable, trying to rub up against some boats. Some people have reportedly tried pouring beer down his blowhole and brushing his teeth.

A scientific panel concluded the whale must be moved because, like a bear that has gotten used to human garbage, Luna has become a nuisance. There are concerns he might overturn a boat or be seriously injured by one.

The plan had been to move Luna down the island coast to a spot near Victoria by December. Luna's pod often swims in U.S. waters near there.

Much of the money for the undertaking likely will have to come from public donations.

Sloan said waiting until spring won't be a problem for Luna. There's less boat traffic in Nootka Sound in the winter.

"There will be much fewer interactions (with Luna) over the winter, so it's more manageable; that's for sure," she said.

McLaughlin said his organization and the Vancouver Aquarium also need some time to have their concerns about liability answered.

They want some assurances from the Canadian government, the U.S. government or both that they won't be sued if Luna damages property or hurts someone, he said.

Any move of Luna would involve cooperation among the Canadian fisheries department, the groups that would handle the actual move and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service.

In Washington, D.C., Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., wrote to NMFS authorities this week, urging that a portion of her $1.5 million proposed funding for research and conservation efforts on Luna's U.S. pod be used to move Luna. The money hasn't been approved by Congress.

"I think we need to wait till we've got a signed bill," Seattle-based NMFS spokesman Brian Gorman told The Associated Press yesterday.

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