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Money to move lonely orca could come soon
The Globe and Mail
25th October 2003
U.S. officials are close to announcing funding to reunite Luna, a lonely orca, with its pod, BCTV on Global reported Friday.
“It looks like we've got the funding,” Michael Harris of the Seattle-based Orca Conservancy told the Vancouver station.
The cash will come from a “broad range” of U.S. government agencies, non-profit organizations and concerned individuals, he said.
Canadian officials were speculating earlier in the week that a lack of funding could sink plans to relocate the whale living off the B.C. coast with its pod in U.S. waters.
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans put out a call for proposals to move the orca.
The DFO said it was interested in proposals submitted by both the Vancouver Aquarium and a U.S.-based group.
But neither group was able to provide the necessary cash for the move.
Luna, a four-year-old, one-tonne killer whale, has spent most of his life on his own off the coast of Vancouver Island at Gold River.
The orca has become increasingly sociable. There were reports some people have tried pouring beer down his blow hole and brushing his teeth.
Scientists have said if the whale cannot be relocated, extreme options for his future include captivity or euthanasia.
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