L-98, aka Luna, the orphaned orca juvenile living alone in British Columbia, is finally getting some help.

Canada's Marine Mammal Monitoring Project personnel are patrolling the area that L-98 has called home for nearly a year, in order to keep boaters away from the whale. L-98 is a three-year-old male Southern Resident who's mother, L-67 (Splash) is still alive. For some reason, however, he has been separated from the pod since last summer. As is its historical pattern, L Pod is currently in the San Juan Islands this time of year, as are J and K pods.

Recent reports that L-98 is interacting with boat traffic appears to be the impetus behind the decision to move M3 into the area. M3 is a boater education program modeled after The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program. Stay tuned for more updates on L-98 as they become available.

Meanwhile, researchers are delighted to see A-73 (Springer), the orphaned orca who was recently transferred back to her home waters in British Columbia, bonding with a surrogate mother and also traveling with her grandmother's pod. For more information visit the Orca Network web site.

The Whale Museum, © 2002