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Luna (L98): Continuing
Updates: September - October 2002
Thank
you for continuing to check the website for Luna News. Our team
is working hard to keep you informed on L98's situation as new information
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Hi Louise, Just a note
to update Luna. The area is very quiet these days. Our Patrol boat
reports that Luna has moved back to Mooyah Bay. He still checks
out every boat passing through. There are very few of those though.
The big red CCG Atlin Post has to transit to get to Gold River so
is in the area almost 2 X a week. Luna makes a bee line to the boat
and does his thing. Still though he is healthy, relatively happy
and growing. There are still chum salmon to be had in Mooyah. The
Pilchard seem to be gone. I haven't seen evidence of large bodies
of fish. The water temp outside has dropped. The pilchard try to
be gone before water temp goes down to much. There is a large die
off in Fair Harbour. This is a bit early as far as I can remember.
I haven't seen any die off in Gold River. I will be in Tahsis next
week and will look around for dead pilchard or live pilchard for
that matter. Here
is the latest report from Fisheries Officer Ed Throburn: I
try and visit L98 weekly often from a distance and I have to report
he is healthy and growing in leaps and bounds.
I do think he is sad because he is so lonely.
Last week he spent many hours with the salmon gillnet fleet
in Nootka Sound. He was very careful around their nets and visited
many boats for a close look. The
fishers were very excited and for the most part were very respectful
of his wild state. This
fishery will be going on for 3 to 4 more weeks and I will try to
look out for him. I should be out there tomorrow and for sure he
will be in a visiting mood. We have given the fleet the rules of engagement. Ed
Thorburn 2 October 2002 Hello, We have had a disconcerting report from Nootka Sound that numerous conversations have been overheard in recent days on the VHF in which people talked about feeding and petting Luna and broadcasted information on Luna's whereabouts. A sport fishing derby over the weekend and increasing logging activity has meant somewhat greater boat traffic, and obviously greater curiosity about L98. Here's this morning's update from Fishery
Officer Ed Thorburn:
Spent Monday and yesterday in Nootka. Monday
on our (Garth & I) watch to Friendly Cove we spotted 2 orcas. It was about 17:30 and we were in Fidalgo Passage
on the North West side of Bligh Island. There they were: one large male and a juvenile heading toward Friendly
Cove. I was hoping it was
Luna returning to his pod. Garth
took some pictures and will e-mail them to you Thursday. The juvenile was about the same size as Luna. We could not get that close so positive ID
was not possible. I was
thinking Luna would acknowledge small boats.
Next day we had to transit East to Tlupana Inlet.
At San Carlos Point there was Luna pushing the work boat
of the Atlin Post (CCG vessel) around.
2 crew were ashore and the boat operator was terrified as
he had not seen Luna before. He was touching shore when Luna pushed his
boat into the open water. We
had to intercept as the work boat is only 15 feet.
Luna seems fine and still has clean breath. No more new cuts or scrapes. He
was not happy when we reversed with speed and left him in bubbles.
We continued on to Tulpana.
The area where he was is across from Critter Cove and almost
into Fidalgo Passage. He
must have seen or known a pod was in the area last night.
It is hoped that the pix Garth sends allows you to ID the
pod. This may help in understanding Luna actions and need to be
alone.
When we returned toward Friendly Cove Luna was playing with
3 boom sticks. These are 60 feet long and held together by
chains. He was having a
time pushing them around and toward shore.
We put out a ship notice for the logs as a navagation hazard. Luna was keeping the passage clear, it seems.
Anyway we stayed away and he continued to keep to the boom
sticks. The caretaker at
Critter Cove was about to get into his boat ( 16" Aluminum)
to get the logs. When we
told him Luna was using them for fun he decided to leave them for
another day. Garth & I flagged them (the boom sticks)
earlier that day.
Today the Chum Gill Net fishery moves to Tlupana and Cook
Channel areas. There are 33 small and not so small boats in
this fishery. They are all
aware of Luna and have been given the rules of engagement. We wll be out there and will assess the situation. If needed we may be asking for help in monitoring
Luna in future fisheries. They will be each Tuesday and Wednesday
till at least the end of Oct.
It seems Luna is getting more and more confident with being
in Nootka Sound and is prepared to wander around the area.
I just hope this will put him in an area where he can more
easily find his pod when and if they come by.
Oh, when he was playing with the boom sticks I saw him breach. This is the first time I've seen him do this
for some time , months in fact. Heres hoping he is well and happier. Will keep in touch. Ed Thorburn Hi All, Hope you're enjoying the final
journal entries from the M3 crew in Nootka Sound. Apologies for taking so long. I checked in with Air Nootka and the
Uchuk lll today, both of whom reported not having seen Luna since
last Monday, outside of Mooyah Bay in his zone.
However, I had the following report from Fisheries Officer,
Ed Thorburn, in Gold River, on Thursday, September 26.
Ed and his partner Garth are on regular patrol in Nootka
Sound with the current commercial chum fishery. As
of two weeks ago, approximately 33 gill-netters are operating in
the area, two to three days per week until the end of October.
He reports the following: Louise: Visited Luna Monday and Wednesday of
this week [September 24 & 25].
I am concerned about the acetone to his breath.
Monday there was no discernible smell to Luna's breath. Thursday the same except for a slight smell
but not acetone in nature. So for that part I feel a lot better. There are many many chum salmon in
Mooyah Bay and area. Also
the pilchard are in schools of 1 to 5 tonnes, and they are numerous. For food right now it couldn't be better.
There is a slight depression behind the blow hole. This seems
to be as per I have seen since I can remember.
I have asked in the local paper for early photos of Luna
prior to Feb of this year. If that happens I can show a change or no change. As for physical well-being Luna seems to be
top notch. Not as active
as in past but growing. He
has put on size since you last saw him even.
I was amazed at his growth since the last time I was up close
and personal. That was some time in early August. I'd say his is now fat. His dorsal is getting longer as well. However, I worry Luna does not seem as happy though.
I see a sadness in his eyes.
He is not as pushy now, more begging.
I truly believe he is very depressed. This worries me.
His face around the snout is scraped up and has some flaking.
No other noticeable cuts or abrasions.
He has a bit of a grey tinge to the dorsal area skin. The local band now believe Luna should
make up his own mind as to where he should live. They are happy he has chosen Mooyah Bay and
their territorial lands. Further,
they say Victoria is polluted and the food source is contaminated
by toxins and such. It is
felt that if Luna wanted to be with his pod he would have left by
now. Ed
Thorburn M3
officially wrapped up the season and took the vessel out of the
water on Sunday, September 15th. The vessel will remain in Gold River and our
crews in Victoria are ready to re-launch should the need arise.
We're keeping tabs on Luna through the kind assistance of a number
of dedicated individuals in the Gold River area including the folks
at Air Nootka, the Uchuk III, the Interfor logging camp and various
others. In this way, we
have daily access to information on Luna's whereabouts and behaviours
and how people are behaving around him.
We've no word yet on the federal government's plans with
respect to re-uniting Luna with L-pod, which Our
latest report is from Air Nootka who reported seeing Luna back in
the Mooyah Bay area today so it would seem, for the time being,
that he has returned to his old stomping ground.
We'll do our best to keep you posted on Luna's status, and
check back here soon for the final accounts from our Nootka crews.
Until
then, thanks on behalf of Luna and the M3 folks, for your continued
support and interest in this amazing whale. Cheers, © 2009 Veins of Life Watershed Society / All Rights Reserved / if you wish to use any info for commercial or non commercial usage you must obtain permissions from The Veins of Life Watershed Society |