Plan to move Luna delayed

GOLD RIVER, B.C. – Attempts to capture and relocate an overly friendly killer whale were put on temporary hold Thursday so Canadian fisheries officials can talk with Indians opposed to the capture.

Scientists still hope to reunite Luna with his U.S. relatives.

The Indians believe the 5-year-old whale embodies the spirit of their late chief.

The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans said in a statement that it wants to move Luna south to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where other members of his pod have been seen recently, to keep him safe.

The whale has grown dangerously friendly with people and boats. Earlier this month, he surfaced in the path of a float plane that was landing.

But the department also acknowledged the “cultural and spiritual significance of Luna to the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation generally.”

The local Indians believe Luna is the incarnation of a chief who died in 2001, about the time the whale showed up in Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

“It is evident, however, that further discussions are required, and in the interests of public safety and the well-being of the whale, we will be meeting with First Nations over the coming days to review options,” the fisheries statement said.

“The information that was forwarded to us was that they’re going to stop the capture until such time that we’re able to sit down and talk,” Mowachaht Chief Mike Maquinna said late Thursday.

Maquinna said he thinks talks about the orca’s future will likely start next week.

During the capture efforts of the past few days, Indians in canoes have been trying to lure Luna away from fisheries boats and out to sea.

The Indians issued a statement Wednesday demanding that the relocation plan be postponed until an agreement could be reached to allow the Indians to act as stewards for the whale.

There was another incident Thursday morning involving a Fisheries Department boat and Indians in Nootka Sound.

Luna had been following the fisheries boat but turned away to return to a group of Indian canoes and fishing boats. The fisheries boat followed and warned the Indians they were violating marine mammal regulations.

Fisheries officials fear time is running out for a successful reunion with L-pod, Luna’s U.S. relatives, recently seen swimming in the strait and the Pedder Bay area, 220 miles south of here near Victoria.

“The window of opportunity we have, I think, is closing,” Marilyn Joyce, a Canadian marine mammal coordinator, said earlier.