For Luna - 2003

Luna is a young male orca, born in 1999. He is a member of the Southern Residents, a group of orcas that live off the coast of Washington state and the southernmost areas of British Columbia. More specifically, he is a member of L pod, one of three pods that make up the Southern Residents. His immediate family includes his mother Splash, his uncles Gaia and Wavewalker, and his grandmother Grace. In 2002, his mother had another calf. This calf has not been named yet, but has been designated L-101.

Since 2001, Luna has not been with his pod. Some speculate that he followed one of his uncles into Nootka Sound, and when his uncle died, Luna did not know how to find his way back. He remains in Nootka Sound and problems with him have been increasing.

Killer whales are very social animals, and Luna has been seeking social contact by approaching people. Many boats frequent the area - both for work and pleasure. Luna has been approaching these boats and has been hit by boats as they are sometimes unable to avoid him. Tour groups have been coming into the area to see him, and many have petted him. Others have done things like try to feed him people food, or give him things like beer.

He's growing aggressive in his search for attention, pushing against boats and sometimes trying to prevent people from leaving the area. He's very young and doesn't really have a sense of his own strength.

Last year there was a similar case with a female orca named Springer. After her mother died, she wandered away from her family and ended up hundreds of miles south of her family's range. She was starving and not doing well at all. A rescue effort began and she was captured and placed into a pen where she was rehabilitated. After her health had improved, Springer was released and eventually rejoined her family pod, following her grandmother and her grandmother's family.

Many want to do the same with Luna, and believe he'll do even better off. His mother is still alive, and he's perfectly healthy. The Canadian government, however, wants to "leave things to nature." While this is all well and good in theory, it does not work in practice, at least with Luna's case. I personally worry that his playful aggression will lead to somebody getting seriously injured or drowning. Once that happens, I fear that he'll be either captured and kept in captivity or destroyed as a "dangerous wild animal."

The Southern Resident population is not doing well as a whole, and they need every member they have. For more information on Luna and how to help, please visit the site for the Luna Stewardship Project.

His markings are accurate to the best of my abilities. The only thing I didn't have reference for was his tail flukes. The Incredible Sumarfishy was the model, but I probably should've shortened the area between his mouth and pec to pull off the perspective better.