A group of Northern Residents, from G clan, visited Nootka Sound yesterday. It is believed that Luna heard them, though he didn't join them. It is very unlikely that Luna would join a group of killer whales from a completely different community. The fact that residents visited Nootka Sound suggests a completely natural reunion is possible for Luna. Luna's presence in Nootka Sound suggests Southern Residents also visit Nootka Sound. If Luna hears them they may reunite on their own.

My one and only shot of Springer. She is an orphaned northern resident killer whale that was lost in Puget Sound and successfully relocated back with her pod. We hope to see the same for Luna one day.

The gallery has been updated.

Northern resident killer whale photos and slideshow composed with thier calls.

Photographic Catalogue of Humpback Whales in British Columbia

Recordings of British Columbia Northern Resident Killer Whales in the Robson Bight-Michael Bigg Ecological Reserve rubbing at the beaches and travelling west up Johnstone Strait.

I would like to pay my respects to Poco a creature that has touched the hearts of so many people worldwide. Similar behaviour of this beluga is reflected in other lone marine animals. I have worked with two members of this unique crowd. The first, West Coast Willy, a lone false killer whale that resides along the coast of British Columbia. This animal lost his family group in 1987 as they washed up on various beaches. The second, Luna (L98 / Tusxiit) the lone killer whale in Nootka Sound. During 2003 I was a steward for the whale in Gold River. These creatures bring our worlds closer together sparking a profound interest to understand the reasons for their predicaments. Poco's legacy can continue through environmental education and conservation efforts.

WSP NOAA

Black bear photos and a show from Gold River taken during a May 2004 road trip.

Luna presentation will be shown at the Way Of Whales workshop.

L98 incident report for 2003

Lots of new photographs in the Gallery and a page dedicated to T14.

Johnstone Strait slide show (5Mb) and Chantelle's photos.

A start to my journal from working up in Johnstone Strait on West Cracroft Island.

I am currently at Orca Lab working on their Luna recordings. I arrived yesterday from West Cracroft Isalnd after finishing work for the Northern Resident Killer Whale Vessel Interaction study.

I will be away on Cracroft Island observing northern resident killer whale behaviour until September. When I get back I will be extending my acoustic research on Luna by analyzing Orcalab's recordings (about 110 hours). Have a great summer!

Springer (A73) returns! She was identified in the Robson Bight Michael Bigg Ecological Reserve with her great aunt Yakat (A11) who has two offspring and the three adult males (the A36 matriline). She was photo-identified by the park wardens and acoustically identified by Orcalab.

Our 2003 Luna Stewardship Journals are now online.

Luna's calls

My initial reporton Tsuxiit's discrete call use. Luna is using an acoustic signature that can be used to locate the whale after relocation release.

Please email me for full report: griffinr at gmail dot com

Luna was captured today by DFO and the Vancouver Aquarium scientists. Tsux-iit later was seen outside of the net pen seeminly to have escaped.

I am part of a group of ecologists and reseachers that have put together a non-profit organization called the Ocean Society.