Photo - Jared Towers Video - Chantelle Tucker INTRODUCTION Killer Whales / OrcasKiller Whales / Orcas Luna (L98 / Tsuxiit)Luna (L98 / Tsuxiit) Luna Stewardship

Photo - Jared TowersPhoto - Jared TowersVideo - Chantelle TuckerVideo - Chantelle Tucker

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION• Killer Whales / OrcasKiller Whales / Orcas• Luna (L98 / Tsuxiit)Luna (L98 / Tsuxiit)• Luna Stewardship ProjectLuna Stewardship Project

LUNA LUNA THE THE KILLER KILLER WHALEWHALE

QuickTime™ and aMPEG-4 Video decompressor

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KILLER WHALESKILLER WHALES• Largest dolphin (cone shaped teeth)Largest dolphin (cone shaped teeth)• Live in all cold oceans of the worldLive in all cold oceans of the world• Rounded head and indistinct beak Rounded head and indistinct beak • Male dorsal fin grows to 6 feet; female dorsal Male dorsal fin grows to 6 feet; female dorsal

fin grows to 3 feet and are more curvedfin grows to 3 feet and are more curved• Maximum: length for males is 32 feet and 28 Maximum: length for males is 32 feet and 28

for females; weight 22,000 and 16,000 lb for females; weight 22,000 and 16,000 lb respectivelyrespectively– Equivalent to the weight of 4 to 5 rhinosEquivalent to the weight of 4 to 5 rhinos

Photo - Jared TowersPhoto - Jared Towers

MaleMale

FemaleFemale

A32A32

L2L2

Photo - Chantelle TuckerPhoto - Chantelle Tucker

• Model of Model of an adult an adult male male killer killer whale whale dorsal findorsal fin

• A33A33

• Killer Killer whales whales are fully are fully grown grown at 20 at 20 years of years of ageage

BC KILLER WHALESBC KILLER WHALES

• ResidentsResidents– eat fisheat fish– inhabit the coast during the inhabit the coast during the

spring, summer, and fall months spring, summer, and fall months – unknown winter rangeunknown winter range


Photo - Rachael GriffinPhoto - Rachael Griffin

• TransientsTransients– eat meateat meat– unpredictable year-round unpredictable year-round

rangerange

T14T14

Map - Modified from Ford 1991Map - Modified from Ford 1991Video - Chantelle TuckerVideo - Chantelle Tucker

BC RESIDENT KILLER BC RESIDENT KILLER WHALE RANGEWHALE RANGE

214 threatened whales

87 endangered whales87 endangered whales

RESIDENT KILLER WHALE SOCIAL RESIDENT KILLER WHALE SOCIAL STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

• Longevity - males live up to 50 years old (ave 30) Longevity - males live up to 50 years old (ave 30) and females live to 90 years (ave 50)and females live to 90 years (ave 50)

• Matriline - mother and up to 4 generations of her Matriline - mother and up to 4 generations of her offspring, stay in acoustic contact all their livesoffspring, stay in acoustic contact all their lives

• Pod - a group of related matrilinesPod - a group of related matrilines• Clan - pods that share similar vocal callsClan - pods that share similar vocal calls


THREATSTHREATS• Decrease in Decrease in

fish stocksfish stocks• PollutionPollution• Vessel Vessel

interactionsinteractions

Photo - Jared TowersPhoto - Jared TowersVideo - Chantelle TuckerVideo - Chantelle Tucker



VOCALIZATIONSVOCALIZATIONS

• Echolocate - prey and the Echolocate - prey and the marine environmentmarine environment

• Calls – maintain group Calls – maintain group cohesion and convey pod cohesion and convey pod identity identity

Audio - Rachael GriffinAudio - Rachael GriffinVideo - Chantelle TuckerVideo - Chantelle Tucker

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LUNALUNA

• Five years old (b. Sep 1999)Five years old (b. Sep 1999)• L pod member (L98)L pod member (L98)• L2 matriline (family)L2 matriline (family)

LUNA’S FAMILYLUNA’S FAMILY

Ford Ford et al.et al. 2000 2000

• The southern The southern resident killer resident killer whale whale community (J community (J clan) consists clan) consists of 3 pods (J, K, of 3 pods (J, K, and L)and L)

• There are 12 There are 12 matrilines in L matrilines in L podpod

• L pod lost 5 L pod lost 5 members over members over the 2000 - 2001 the 2000 - 2001 winter season winter season including Luna including Luna / L98 and his / L98 and his uncle Orcan / uncle Orcan / L39L39


LUNA’S HISTORYLUNA’S HISTORY• 2001 - Identified in Nootka Sound. Muchalaht/Mowachaht First Nation of 2001 - Identified in Nootka Sound. Muchalaht/Mowachaht First Nation of

Gold River recognize the whale as embodying their late chief Ambrose Gold River recognize the whale as embodying their late chief Ambrose Maquinna and name him Tsuxiit.Maquinna and name him Tsuxiit.

• 2002 - Luna Stewardship Project begins monitoring as interactions with the 2002 - Luna Stewardship Project begins monitoring as interactions with the juvenile whale increase.juvenile whale increase.

• 2003 - Department of Fisheries and Oceans decide to reunite Luna for public 2003 - Department of Fisheries and Oceans decide to reunite Luna for public and whale safety. and whale safety.

• 2004 - Attempts to move Luna are put on hold.2004 - Attempts to move Luna are put on hold.

Luna is here in Nootka Sound

Luna’s family lives in the Juan de Fuca Strait

Map – Advanced Satellite Productions

Vancouver IslandVancouver Island


LUNA STEWARDSHIP LUNA STEWARDSHIP PROJECT (LSP)PROJECT (LSP)

• MonitoringMonitoring• EducationEducation• ResearchResearch

LSPLSP

LSPLSP

LSPLSP Video -Chantelle TuckerVideo -Chantelle Tucker







Photo -Rachael Griffin Photo -Rachael Griffin Video- Chantelle TuckerVideo- Chantelle Tucker

LUNA GUIDELINES:LUNA GUIDELINES:• Do not approach or interact with LunaDo not approach or interact with Luna

• Do not stop or slow down around LunaDo not stop or slow down around Luna

• Maintain vessel speed and directionMaintain vessel speed and direction



ACOUSTIC RESEARCHACOUSTIC RESEARCH

• Over 200 calls analyzed Over 200 calls analyzed • Luna uses three family callsLuna uses three family calls

Luna’s First Call in Nootka Sound (L98_1)Luna’s First Call in Nootka Sound (L98_1)

Sound frequency (kHz) versus time (s) graph of Luna’s Sound frequency (kHz) versus time (s) graph of Luna’s first call (L98_1)first call (L98_1)

• L98_1 is repeated twiceL98_1 is repeated twice

Audio - Rachael GriffinAudio - Rachael Griffin

Luna’s Second (L98_2) and Third (L98_3) CallsLuna’s Second (L98_2) and Third (L98_3) Calls

• L98_2 is emitted before L98_3L98_2 is emitted before L98_3L98_2L98_2 L98_3L98_3

Audio - Rachael GriffinAudio - Rachael Griffin

Sound frequency (kHz) versus time (s) Sound frequency (kHz) versus time (s) graph of Luna’s second call (L98_2)graph of Luna’s second call (L98_2)

Sound frequency (kHz) versus time (s) Sound frequency (kHz) versus time (s) graph of Luna’s third call (L98_3)graph of Luna’s third call (L98_3)

SUMMARYSUMMARY• KILLER WHALES - males grow to 32 feet long, live up to 60 KILLER WHALES - males grow to 32 feet long, live up to 60

years of age, and live in family groups all their lives.years of age, and live in family groups all their lives.• LUNA - juvenile male endangered killer whale alone in Nootka LUNA - juvenile male endangered killer whale alone in Nootka

Sound, his mother is alive and he is making family calls.Sound, his mother is alive and he is making family calls.• LSP - crew go out on the water to educate boaters and encourage LSP - crew go out on the water to educate boaters and encourage

them to stay away from Luna.them to stay away from Luna.







ORCA RECOVERY ORCA RECOVERY ACTIONSACTIONS

• Promote conservation awarenessPromote conservation awareness• Help clean up salmon watersheds Help clean up salmon watersheds • Use biodegradable productsUse biodegradable products• Learn more about stewardshipLearn more about stewardship• VolunteerVolunteer


www.lunastewardship.comwww.lunastewardship.com

Documents

Photo - Jared Towers Video - Chantelle Tucker INTRODUCTION Killer Whales / OrcasKiller Whales / Orcas Luna (L98 / Tsuxiit)Luna (L98 / Tsuxiit) Luna Stewardship