Why Can't We Be Friends!

In 2001 Luna separated from his pod (5-30 Killer Whales a.k.a. as Orcas) off the coast of Canada's Vancouver Island in the harbor. Orcas are not really whales but dolphins who thrive on companionship.  Luna replaced his family by interacting with humans.  He would rub up against boats and try to get close to people.

Many of the boaters were annoyed by his close contact with the boats.  Animal activists felt like he was on a collision course of being hit in an active harbor.  The Canadian Government decided to try to capture Luna and either put him in an aquarium or try to return him to his pod.  The Native Americans, who feel the orca is a sacred animal, came out in canoes and prevented the capture.

Before the Chief of the Native Americans passed away, he claimed he was coming back as a killer whale.  The very week he died, Luna showed up. A lot of Native Americans felt that Luna was the spirit of their Chief.

After 5 years of being in the harbor he got too close to a big tug boat.  The captain of the tug boat was unaware of Luna and he unintentionally ran him over.  Luna just wanted to be around humans which eventually killed him.

What we must learn from this is that humans need one another to survive.  Luna experienced the need for human contact as well.  It was our responsibility to find a way to relate to him that would not harm him.  We failed to figure it out.  Luna was killed just because he was trying to be friendly.