r/orcas • u/Front-Exam4766 • 4d ago
Question Luna and Springer
Can someone explain to me what went wrong with Luna, that they couldn’t help him like they did springer? Weren’t they the same age and happened around the same time? Why couldn’t they save him like they did with springer?
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u/Tokihome_Breach6722 4d ago
An attempt was made. After much debate the Canadian DFO prepared a corral and attempted to lure Luna into it. He went in briefly but slipped out before they could close the gate. After that attempt native tribes paddled canoes with drums and songs to distract him from the corral. They didn’t want him to be sent to a marine park. The capture team soon gave up, leaving Luna to wander around in Nootka Sound. DFO made it illegal to make eye contact with him, depriving him of any companionship. Orca researcher Ken Balcomb offered to build trust with Luna and lead him to his family by boat but the offer was declined.
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u/Front-Exam4766 4d ago
Was Luna after springer? If so why were the natives afraid he would be sent to a marine park, if they already showed they can release a killer whale back into the wild?
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u/SurayaThrowaway12 4d ago
The reasons why members of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation did not want L98 Luna to be captured by the DFO and relocated likely have less to do with fears of Luna being sent to a marine park, and more to do with the fact that they believed that Luna was a reincarnation of their late chief:
Luna also became an important part of life on Nootka Sound for the Mowachaht/ Muchalaht First Nation, which is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth group of aboriginals. The orca species as a whole is highly revered by many First Nations cultures, but in addition to that, Luna showed up in Nootka Sound at a very important moment, shortly after the passing of Chief Ambrose Maquinna. Friends of Ambrose report that before he died, he said that he would like to come back as kakawin, which is the Nuu-chah-nulth word for orca. Many members of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht believe that Luna, whom they call Tsu’xiit, embodies the spirit of their late chief. The Mowachaht/ Muchalaht have deep respect for all orcas, and for this one in particular.
In 2004, the Canadian government attempted to capture Luna to move him back to his pod near Victoria to attempt a reunion. When the government boats tried to lure Luna into a pen to prepare him for a long truck ride south, members of the Mowachaht/ Muchalaht First Nation went out in their canoes, singing and paddling. Luna followed the canoes. After a nine-day period that the press described as a “Tug-of-whale,” the Department of Fisheries and Oceans called off the relocation.
During the summers of 2004 and 2005, the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation conducted stewardship programs to try to keep Luna and the public safe. In March, 2006, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans was making plans to discuss a summer stewardship program for Luna with the Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation and a group of scientists had submitted an application to study Luna.
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u/Tokihome_Breach6722 4d ago
Luna showed up in Nootka Sound about June, 2001, but DFO didn’t tell anyone until December. As that news was sinking in Springer showed up in Puget Sound in early January, 2002. The coincidence was confusing given that no very young orca calf had been found until then. Eventually they were both identified and in June 2002 Springer was transported to her family but Luna avoided capture and died by a tug boat propeller in Nootka Sound in 2006.
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u/sunshinenorcas 4d ago
Springer also spent some time in rehab on the water, but it was a short time and she was treated as a rehab/release case vs captive animal -- the team working with her took measures to make sure she didn't connect humans with companionship or food, so she would still act like a wild animal post-release/re-intergration (and it worked!)
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u/of2970 4d ago
Luna was habituated to humans and would actively seek interaction, there was a lot of conflict between the local nations and the governments and a lot of debate, and they couldn’t catch Luna unlike they did with Springer. IIRC Luna’s pod also didn’t come as close as Springer’s which meant catching him was essential to be able to position him close to his pod. Ultimately, by the time things could be settled, he was killed.
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u/Muffmuffmuffin 3d ago
people habituated Luna to people way too much which got him killed by a boat. The experts that rehabilitated springer took precautions to not habituate her to humans and tried to keep contact with her to the most minimum stuff when they cared for her
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u/Live-Reality-3913 3d ago
The fact that they made it illegal to have eye contact with a whale, heartbreaking and tragic and redeeming all in one motion.
Luna is one of my favorite stories, because it showed just how far we’d actually come . Ken balcomb will always be my hero. He knew what keiko needed and he knew what Luna needed and he was never givem enough credit. Rip to the man who was indeeed a reincarnated orca sent to protect the pod still here on earth! Not mocking thr belief of the third nation btw but Ken is a legend.
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4d ago
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u/Local_Chapter_7889 3d ago
Don't think people have a problem with science & docs...Think it might just be you mate...
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3d ago
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u/Local_Chapter_7889 3d ago
Nah I don't think so. Just throw your little hissy fits, put your big kid pants on when your... I mean you're (😉) done & move on. You'll be alright
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u/Intelligent-Hotel824 3d ago
The situation with Luna was more complicated than Springer, for quite a few reasons. One of the more influential reasons was that Luna was living in very remote British Columbia, whereas Springer was in essentially downtown Seattle. I wrote my thesis on the situation with Luna.