REUNITE LUNA

A tragic anniversary
Two years ago today, a brave young orca’s life ended in tragedy
2008-03-10

SAVING LUNA playing at a number of film festivals
SAVING LUNA is the true story of Luna, a young orca who was separated from his family and tried to make friends with people in Nootka Sound, on Vancouver Island’s West Coast
2008-01-22

Luna's birthday
Today, September 19, is a day that could have been a celebration.
2007-09-19

SAVING LUNA: premieres Oct 6
Mountainside Films is pleased to announce the premiere of the feature documentary, SAVING LUNA at the Vancouver International Film Festival.
2007-09-11

CTV to broadcast movie abot Luna
Acclaimed actor Adam Beach (Flags of Our Fathers, Law & Order: SVU) stars in the poignant CTV Original Movie Luna: Spirit of the Whale, premiering on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV.
2007-04-29

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Luna’s tragic death
Luna's beautiful voice was heard throughout the deep reaches of Nootka Sound until March 10, 2006
2007-03-10

Recent Supporters
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Current Action | Write to DFO | Write to NMFS | Writing Tips

TAKE ACTION BY WRITING, FAXING OR EMAILING DFO

IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION!
United States National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

Updated January 24, 2006

Note: On January 23, 2006 Canadians elected a new government which will result in new Ministers and Critics. These are usually announced about 10 days after the election. We will update our letter writing campaign to the US and Canadian Governents at that time.

The current action campaign to NMFS is to respectfully ask NMFS to do the following:

to pressure the Canadian Government to reunite Luna with his pod
to continue to provide funding for Southern Resident orca research and tracking
to ask for coopertaion from DFO to track the L Pod during the winter

Please feel free to write your own letter, or copy and paste the text in the sample letter below. All contact info is located further down this page.

SAMPLE LETTER TO NMFS

Bob Lohn
Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries
7600 Sand Point Way NE,
Seattle, WA 98115-0070

cc: Senator Maria Cantwell (Washington)
Brent Norberg, NOAA Fisheries, NMFS Regional Stranding Coordinator

Dear Mr. Lohn

I am writing to express my support for the reunification of the solitary southern resident orca, L98 (Luna), with his pod, and to request that National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) resources be dedicated to achieving this within the shortest possible time frame. I ask that you tell the Candian Government to reunite Luna wih his pod this year.

Given the present unresolved political impasse between Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations (MMFN) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), I believe that effort should be made to increase the likelihood that Luna and his pod would meet "naturally". To this end, I request that NMFS, actively dedicates resources to tracking L pod towards the end of the current "season", so that they can be followed as they leave the San Juan Island area for the winter. If the pod ventures north and comes close to the entrance of Nootka Sound, and if L98 were to be led within acoustic range, I believe that "nature will take its course" and that L98 will choose to leave Nootka Sound on his own and rejoin his group.

I realize that NMFS cannot act alone in this matter, and that the cooperation of Canadian authorities is needed. I therefore further request that you actively seek the cooperation of DFO in pursuing this goal.

At this time, what other options are there which will both be cost effective and culturally sensitive? Let's give the whales a chance to resolve this problem. Luna's situation over the winter may become less hazardous as boat and tourist traffic decreases, but that does not change the fact that Luna will always be at risk while he remains separated from his family and socially frustrated.

I sincerely believe that you have L98's best interests at heart and have demonstrated a great concern for the safety of the public. Like many others, I would like to see this issue resolved as soon as possible. Therefore, I urge you to act now and do everything possible to accomplish a natural reunion this fall or winter.

Yours sincerely,

NMFS AND US GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
Note: if you are short of time, please start at the top of this list and work your way down. If you are really short on time, focus your energy on contacting DFO.

Bob Lohn
Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries
7600 Sand Point Way NE,
Seattle, WA 98115-0070
Phone (206) 526-6150
Fax (206) 526-6426
Email: Bob.Lohn@noaa.gov

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell
915 Second Avenue
Suite 3206
Seattle, WA 98174
Telephone: 206-220-6400
Fax: 206-220-6404
Email: http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html

ACTION TIPS
While taking action to support Luna, please be polite. Remember that everyone you write to is there to do a job and they are making decisions on Luna's fate using their knowledge. You may want to consider the following points:

Luna is a five-year-old whale who has been away from his family for three years
Luna is part of an endangered species; he needs to be with his family to help re-populate his pod
DFO annouced one year ago that they would move Luna
It is not natural for Luna to stay in his current environment
Scientific evidence points towards a successful reunion
Two years ago, Springer was reunited with her pod successfully

Click here for writing tips from David Suzuki.

Join the Luna Supporters Club!
If you would like to be recognized by Luna as a person who took action to help him, please click here (Luna would only like to know your first name and city).