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The Lost Whale: The True Story of an Orca Named Luna
The heartbreaking and true story of a lonely orca named Luna who befriended humans in Nootka Sound, off the coast of Vancouver Island.
One summer in Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, a young killer whale called Luna got separated from his pod. Like humans, orcas are highly social and depend on their families, but Luna found himself desperately alone. So he tried to make contact with people. He begged for attention at boats and docks. He looked soulfully into people's eyes. He wanted to have his tongue rubbed. When someone whistled at him, he squeaked and whistled back. People fell in love with him, but the government decided that being friendly with Luna was bad for him, and tried to keep him away from humans. Policemen arrested people for rubbing Luna's nose. Fines were levied. Undaunted, Luna refused to give up his search for connection and people went out to meet him, like smugglers carrying friendship through the dark. But does friendship work between species? People who loved Luna couldn't agree on how to help him. Conflict came to Nootka Sound. The government built a huge net. The First Nations' members brought out their canoes. Nothing went as planned, and the ensuing events caught everyone by surprise and challenged the very nature of that special and mysterious bond we humans call friendship. The Lost Whale celebrates the life of a smart, friendly, determined, transcendent being from the sea who appeared among us like a promise out of the blue: that the greatest secrets in life are still to be discovered.
One summer in Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, a young killer whale called Luna got separated from his pod. Like humans, orcas are highly social and depend on their families, but Luna found himself desperately alone. So he tried to make contact with people. He begged for attention at boats and docks. He looked soulfully into people's eyes. He wanted to have his tongue rubbed. When someone whistled at him, he squeaked and whistled back. People fell in love with him, but the government decided that being friendly with Luna was bad for him, and tried to keep him away from humans. Policemen arrested people for rubbing Luna's nose. Fines were levied. Undaunted, Luna refused to give up his search for connection and people went out to meet him, like smugglers carrying friendship through the dark. But does friendship work between species? People who loved Luna couldn't agree on how to help him. Conflict came to Nootka Sound. The government built a huge net. The First Nations' members brought out their canoes. Nothing went as planned, and the ensuing events caught everyone by surprise and challenged the very nature of that special and mysterious bond we humans call friendship. The Lost Whale celebrates the life of a smart, friendly, determined, transcendent being from the sea who appeared among us like a promise out of the blue: that the greatest secrets in life are still to be discovered.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2013
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1813 people want to read
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September 23, 2024
In 2001, a two-year-old orca named Luna made a surprising entrance into Nootka Sound, located on the western side of Vancouver Island. The local community had no idea that this charming and friendly visitor would change their lives forever. Luna quickly captured the hearts of everyone around. The Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations believed that he was the reincarnation of their late chief, who had told them before he died that he would return as KaKaw’in - the killer whale. They named the little orca Tsu’xiit.
Once it became clear who Luna was and the famous population he was part of, a wave of drama erupted over the efforts to bring him back to his family, from whom he had been mysteriously separated. When I provide more information about Luna's family, you'll understand how strange it was for him to arrive alone, as if he had no intention of looking for them whatsoever. During the five years Luna spent in Nootka Sound, he became the center of numerous discussions, fascination, affection, and, in the end, profound sorrow. But let’s rewind to the start of this story.
SPOILERS
Before diving into his story, I feel it's important to share how I discovered Luna. Years ago, I watched a documentary called The Whale (2011), narrated by Ryan Reynolds. It was about a solitary orca named Luna who, in his yearning for connection, actively pursued the company of humans. I didn't know anything about orcas and wasn't even aware that there are different ecotypes. I assumed all orcas were the same. Little did I know that orcas would ignite a passion in me and that I would eventually delve into the lives of Luna's family, the Southern Residents, who are the most extensively studied orca population on the planet and are currently endangered due to a scarcity of salmon. I've written about the Southern Residents in my previous reviews, particularly Lolita, a member of this population who spent 53 years in captivity before she passed away last year.
When Luna made his debut in Nootka Sound, the locals were unaware that he already had a name, an alpha-numeric designation (L98), and that he wasn't born in Canada, but in Puget Sound, Washington State. Luna was first spotted in September 1999, just after he was born, alongside his mother, L67 Splash, by Astrid Van Ginneken from the Center for Whale Research. The details of Luna's birth and early life were quite peculiar, but I won't delve into that now. From the very beginning, Luna stood out; researchers noted his sociable nature, high energy, and unusual independence.
In the spring of 2001, L pod returned to the San Juan Islands in Washington, as they do every year. However, little Luna was missing. Researchers, led by the late Ken Balcomb, who dedicated his life to studying and protecting the Southern Resident orcas, were convinced that the young orca had passed away. The Southern Residents are unique because both males and females remain with their mothers for life. It was unprecedented for a Southern Resident, especially a two-year-old, to stray away from their family. He had to be dead, right?
The young orca was alive on the Canadian side of the border. From the very beginning, Luna began to trail behind boats and ships, popping his head up to observe the people aboard. Eugene Amos, a member of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations, had gone through a heartbreaking event in his life just before he spotted Luna from a boat, and this moment filled him with great peace and joy. The Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest share a deep bond with orcas, viewing these magnificent creatures as their relatives beneath the waves.
“The whale’s presence does that for me,” he told us later. “It brings back everybody who was important to me, and who still is important to me. There are supernatural creatures in our belief system. Qwayac’iik is the wolf. He is one of our most respected creatures on the land. His counterpart in the ocean is the orca. He is connected with truth and justice. He was just a little guy then. He was only nine or ten feet or something. He was just a little guy. I thought of it as being a small miracle. And it brought me a sense of peace, in that life goes on.”
Luna would approach boats, making direct eye contact with people and engaging with them. The onlookers were both amazed and surprised, as orcas typically avoid contact with people. Regulations require boaters to stay at least a hundred yards away and to either slow down or halt if they spot whales within four hundred yards. People who encountered Luna often felt a sense of pity for him. A feeling of sadness would wash over them whenever it was time to part ways, as he would trail behind until he could no longer keep up. While I generally refrain from anthropomorphizing animals, it was evident from the sentiments expressed by those familiar with Luna that he was profoundly lonely and in dire need of companionship.
Graeme Ellis made his way to Nootka Sound to photograph and identify the young orca, hoping to uncover its identity. He initially believed the orca belonged to the Northern Residents, commonly spotted near Vancouver Island. He was surprised to discover that the orca was a Southern Resident, which had never been seen in Nootka Sound. Once he recognized the orca as L98 Luna, he shared the photos with Ken Balcomb, who was amazed to discover that Luna was alive and venturing through the ocean on his own. It was hard to fathom that a two-year-old orca could manage to hunt and thrive independently, but Luna proved it was possible.
Luna and younger people seemed fascinated with one another. One scientist who was working to keep people and Luna apart admitted, “If I was a ten-year-old kid or a fifteen-year-old kid, you would have to kill me to keep me away from that whale.”
Luna's tale closely mirrors that of A73 Springer, a young orphaned Northern Resident orca, who experienced her own struggles during the same period as Luna. Springer is the only orca to be successfully rehabilitated back into the wild. However, she was under human care for only a short period. Springer was first spotted as a calf in January 2002 in Washington's Puget Sound, miles from her home waters. She was riddled with disease and emaciated. Scientists identified her by examining her vocal calls and eye patch. They discovered she was the daughter of A45 Sutlej. Sutlej was a Northern Resident and member of one of the most famous killer whale families in British Columbia.
It is believed Sutlej died, thus leaving her little daughter orphaned and alone. Springer wandered around Puget Sound, often coming dangerously close to boats. After much debate, it was decided she was to be captured, rehabilitated, and relocated back home to British Columbia. She was carefully captured and moved to a sea pen in Manchester, Washington. There, she began her month-long rehabilitation process. The staff was careful to keep their presence to a bare minimum. Live salmon was injected with medication and released into her pen through a slide. They devised creative ways to keep her entertained, which would not include human interaction. Once she regained her health, they transported her to Johnstone Strait, British Columbia.
Her release was carefully timed with the arrival of her mother's pod. When her extended family approached her pen, Springer began making loud vocalizations. When she was released, she took off with a live fish in her mouth, presumably to share with her relatives. At first, she was timid, trailing behind the pod. Not long after, she was accepted into the pod. A few years ago, Springer formed her own pod, which consists of her and her two children, Spirit and Storm. This year marked the 22nd anniversary of her successful release.
There was a Canadian orca calf in the United States, and an American orca calf in Canada. It was like an international exchange. Except nobody knew how these two lost whale kids would get home.
Luna was incredibly friendly, allowing people to pet him and scratch his tongue. Despite the efforts of scientists and authorities to keep him away from humans, even imposing fines on those who touched him, Luna became so used to people that it was impossible to keep him away from the boats. Many developed a deep affection for him; while some adhered to the rules, others couldn't resist showing him kindness. This led to a significant conflict involving the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, residents, and the First Nations, which unfolded over a long period. The First Nations actively opposed the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans' attempts to capture Luna, paddling out in their canoes to prevent any forceful actions. After all, Luna had chosen to be there of his own free will. As word spread, the situation attracted more and more people, escalating the drama. There were discussions about capturing Luna, not to bring him back to his pod, but to move him to a marine park or aquarium.
Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm, who, like many others, developed a deep affection for Luna, are the authors of the book. Their writing goes beyond just Luna; it encompasses the setting and the many individuals who were part of his life. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans demonstrated a deficiency in effectiveness and, in certain cases, integrity (what's up, Marilyn). Nonetheless, there is one notable exception. Ed Thorburn, the stern enforcement officer for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, is my favorite person in the book. Although he maintained a serious demeanor, he developed a profound affection for Luna and took every possible action to help him.
Luna lived in Nootka Sound for five years. His life came to a tragic end when he swam too close to a familiar tugboat and was caught in the powerful suction of its propellers, leading to his untimely death at just six years old. He never had the opportunity to reach maturity. Whenever I reflect on Luna, I feel a deep sadness, a sentiment shared by everyone familiar with his story. Many believe that more could have been done for him.
“It was kind of like he was our whale,” Cameron said. “We were protective of him. Because you know people, and people are jerks.”
At this moment, while I’m writing, Luna's close family has mostly passed away, but his uncle, L88 Wavewalker, is still around. Orcas live in matriarchal groups that are governed by the eldest female member. Males often struggle to survive when their close female relatives pass away, but Wavewalker has successfully integrated into a different matriline and appears to be doing fine.
The reasons behind Luna's separation from his family will always remain a mystery. As I mentioned earlier, Southern Resident orcas stay with their mothers for their entire lives. These creatures are incredibly social and possess a highly advanced limbic system, as well as the most gyrified brain in the world. They are capable of experiencing complex emotions. Luna sought companionship from humans, and while they cared for him, they couldn't provide the connection he truly needed. This situation raises important ethical questions about our interactions with wild animals. Experts say humans have caused more harm than good by habituating Luna to human presence. Luna had never been given food by humans; instead, he sought their company, driven by curiosity, a sense of loneliness, or perhaps some other feeling that words can't quite capture. Some people criticize the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations for their stance against Luna's relocation. Given the impact that non-indigenous people have had and continue to have on the environment, we should refrain from criticizing the beliefs and practices of indigenous communities. Springer found her happy ending, and I wish Luna could have experienced the same. Unfortunately, it just wasn't in the cards for him.
The clouds were out. No moon. It was totally dark. And you know that phosphorescence in the water that glow when they’re disturbed?
So we had Luna coming with us, and, oh, man, it was the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen. He was just coming next to us, while we were bringing him over.
You didn’t see Luna. You saw the outline of Luna. The way he glowed. It was like Luna was dancing in the sky with the stars.
So, every time at night when I think of Luna, I look up in the stars.
- Jamie James, Fisheries Manager, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations
Once it became clear who Luna was and the famous population he was part of, a wave of drama erupted over the efforts to bring him back to his family, from whom he had been mysteriously separated. When I provide more information about Luna's family, you'll understand how strange it was for him to arrive alone, as if he had no intention of looking for them whatsoever. During the five years Luna spent in Nootka Sound, he became the center of numerous discussions, fascination, affection, and, in the end, profound sorrow. But let’s rewind to the start of this story.
SPOILERS
Before diving into his story, I feel it's important to share how I discovered Luna. Years ago, I watched a documentary called The Whale (2011), narrated by Ryan Reynolds. It was about a solitary orca named Luna who, in his yearning for connection, actively pursued the company of humans. I didn't know anything about orcas and wasn't even aware that there are different ecotypes. I assumed all orcas were the same. Little did I know that orcas would ignite a passion in me and that I would eventually delve into the lives of Luna's family, the Southern Residents, who are the most extensively studied orca population on the planet and are currently endangered due to a scarcity of salmon. I've written about the Southern Residents in my previous reviews, particularly Lolita, a member of this population who spent 53 years in captivity before she passed away last year.
When Luna made his debut in Nootka Sound, the locals were unaware that he already had a name, an alpha-numeric designation (L98), and that he wasn't born in Canada, but in Puget Sound, Washington State. Luna was first spotted in September 1999, just after he was born, alongside his mother, L67 Splash, by Astrid Van Ginneken from the Center for Whale Research. The details of Luna's birth and early life were quite peculiar, but I won't delve into that now. From the very beginning, Luna stood out; researchers noted his sociable nature, high energy, and unusual independence.
In the spring of 2001, L pod returned to the San Juan Islands in Washington, as they do every year. However, little Luna was missing. Researchers, led by the late Ken Balcomb, who dedicated his life to studying and protecting the Southern Resident orcas, were convinced that the young orca had passed away. The Southern Residents are unique because both males and females remain with their mothers for life. It was unprecedented for a Southern Resident, especially a two-year-old, to stray away from their family. He had to be dead, right?
The young orca was alive on the Canadian side of the border. From the very beginning, Luna began to trail behind boats and ships, popping his head up to observe the people aboard. Eugene Amos, a member of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations, had gone through a heartbreaking event in his life just before he spotted Luna from a boat, and this moment filled him with great peace and joy. The Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest share a deep bond with orcas, viewing these magnificent creatures as their relatives beneath the waves.
“The whale’s presence does that for me,” he told us later. “It brings back everybody who was important to me, and who still is important to me. There are supernatural creatures in our belief system. Qwayac’iik is the wolf. He is one of our most respected creatures on the land. His counterpart in the ocean is the orca. He is connected with truth and justice. He was just a little guy then. He was only nine or ten feet or something. He was just a little guy. I thought of it as being a small miracle. And it brought me a sense of peace, in that life goes on.”
Luna would approach boats, making direct eye contact with people and engaging with them. The onlookers were both amazed and surprised, as orcas typically avoid contact with people. Regulations require boaters to stay at least a hundred yards away and to either slow down or halt if they spot whales within four hundred yards. People who encountered Luna often felt a sense of pity for him. A feeling of sadness would wash over them whenever it was time to part ways, as he would trail behind until he could no longer keep up. While I generally refrain from anthropomorphizing animals, it was evident from the sentiments expressed by those familiar with Luna that he was profoundly lonely and in dire need of companionship.
Graeme Ellis made his way to Nootka Sound to photograph and identify the young orca, hoping to uncover its identity. He initially believed the orca belonged to the Northern Residents, commonly spotted near Vancouver Island. He was surprised to discover that the orca was a Southern Resident, which had never been seen in Nootka Sound. Once he recognized the orca as L98 Luna, he shared the photos with Ken Balcomb, who was amazed to discover that Luna was alive and venturing through the ocean on his own. It was hard to fathom that a two-year-old orca could manage to hunt and thrive independently, but Luna proved it was possible.
Luna and younger people seemed fascinated with one another. One scientist who was working to keep people and Luna apart admitted, “If I was a ten-year-old kid or a fifteen-year-old kid, you would have to kill me to keep me away from that whale.”
Luna's tale closely mirrors that of A73 Springer, a young orphaned Northern Resident orca, who experienced her own struggles during the same period as Luna. Springer is the only orca to be successfully rehabilitated back into the wild. However, she was under human care for only a short period. Springer was first spotted as a calf in January 2002 in Washington's Puget Sound, miles from her home waters. She was riddled with disease and emaciated. Scientists identified her by examining her vocal calls and eye patch. They discovered she was the daughter of A45 Sutlej. Sutlej was a Northern Resident and member of one of the most famous killer whale families in British Columbia.
It is believed Sutlej died, thus leaving her little daughter orphaned and alone. Springer wandered around Puget Sound, often coming dangerously close to boats. After much debate, it was decided she was to be captured, rehabilitated, and relocated back home to British Columbia. She was carefully captured and moved to a sea pen in Manchester, Washington. There, she began her month-long rehabilitation process. The staff was careful to keep their presence to a bare minimum. Live salmon was injected with medication and released into her pen through a slide. They devised creative ways to keep her entertained, which would not include human interaction. Once she regained her health, they transported her to Johnstone Strait, British Columbia.
Her release was carefully timed with the arrival of her mother's pod. When her extended family approached her pen, Springer began making loud vocalizations. When she was released, she took off with a live fish in her mouth, presumably to share with her relatives. At first, she was timid, trailing behind the pod. Not long after, she was accepted into the pod. A few years ago, Springer formed her own pod, which consists of her and her two children, Spirit and Storm. This year marked the 22nd anniversary of her successful release.
There was a Canadian orca calf in the United States, and an American orca calf in Canada. It was like an international exchange. Except nobody knew how these two lost whale kids would get home.
Luna was incredibly friendly, allowing people to pet him and scratch his tongue. Despite the efforts of scientists and authorities to keep him away from humans, even imposing fines on those who touched him, Luna became so used to people that it was impossible to keep him away from the boats. Many developed a deep affection for him; while some adhered to the rules, others couldn't resist showing him kindness. This led to a significant conflict involving the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, residents, and the First Nations, which unfolded over a long period. The First Nations actively opposed the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans' attempts to capture Luna, paddling out in their canoes to prevent any forceful actions. After all, Luna had chosen to be there of his own free will. As word spread, the situation attracted more and more people, escalating the drama. There were discussions about capturing Luna, not to bring him back to his pod, but to move him to a marine park or aquarium.
Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm, who, like many others, developed a deep affection for Luna, are the authors of the book. Their writing goes beyond just Luna; it encompasses the setting and the many individuals who were part of his life. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans demonstrated a deficiency in effectiveness and, in certain cases, integrity (what's up, Marilyn). Nonetheless, there is one notable exception. Ed Thorburn, the stern enforcement officer for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, is my favorite person in the book. Although he maintained a serious demeanor, he developed a profound affection for Luna and took every possible action to help him.
Luna lived in Nootka Sound for five years. His life came to a tragic end when he swam too close to a familiar tugboat and was caught in the powerful suction of its propellers, leading to his untimely death at just six years old. He never had the opportunity to reach maturity. Whenever I reflect on Luna, I feel a deep sadness, a sentiment shared by everyone familiar with his story. Many believe that more could have been done for him.
“It was kind of like he was our whale,” Cameron said. “We were protective of him. Because you know people, and people are jerks.”
At this moment, while I’m writing, Luna's close family has mostly passed away, but his uncle, L88 Wavewalker, is still around. Orcas live in matriarchal groups that are governed by the eldest female member. Males often struggle to survive when their close female relatives pass away, but Wavewalker has successfully integrated into a different matriline and appears to be doing fine.
The reasons behind Luna's separation from his family will always remain a mystery. As I mentioned earlier, Southern Resident orcas stay with their mothers for their entire lives. These creatures are incredibly social and possess a highly advanced limbic system, as well as the most gyrified brain in the world. They are capable of experiencing complex emotions. Luna sought companionship from humans, and while they cared for him, they couldn't provide the connection he truly needed. This situation raises important ethical questions about our interactions with wild animals. Experts say humans have caused more harm than good by habituating Luna to human presence. Luna had never been given food by humans; instead, he sought their company, driven by curiosity, a sense of loneliness, or perhaps some other feeling that words can't quite capture. Some people criticize the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations for their stance against Luna's relocation. Given the impact that non-indigenous people have had and continue to have on the environment, we should refrain from criticizing the beliefs and practices of indigenous communities. Springer found her happy ending, and I wish Luna could have experienced the same. Unfortunately, it just wasn't in the cards for him.
The clouds were out. No moon. It was totally dark. And you know that phosphorescence in the water that glow when they’re disturbed?
So we had Luna coming with us, and, oh, man, it was the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen. He was just coming next to us, while we were bringing him over.
You didn’t see Luna. You saw the outline of Luna. The way he glowed. It was like Luna was dancing in the sky with the stars.
So, every time at night when I think of Luna, I look up in the stars.
- Jamie James, Fisheries Manager, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations
December 20, 2020
The Lost Whale chronicles the life of Luna, or L98, a lost (or abandoned) male orca calf from L pod, who lived in Nootka Sound for 5 years - from 2001 to 2006. His friendly interactions with the local community gained international attention, but also raised some serious concerns. What to do with a whale in their midst? Let nature take its course? Capture and relocate him? Kill him? Place him in an aquarium? Michael Parfit leads the reader through all of it, and more. It's not the (sad) outcome that's captivated me, though, but Parfit's recollection of the events that led to it. The latter part of the book, when the emotions start taking over and the author is no longer concerned only with facts, was a bit on the rambling side. But it's still so very well written. (The book reminds me of A Wolf Called Romeo, and it's not a random association, as orcas are often called the wolves of the sea; regarding this, what I found particularly intriguing was that Luna was fascinated with the wolf howls he was played.)
Those familiar with the story - who have seen the documentary (The Whale, 2011/A Killer Whale Called Luna, 2010/Saving Luna, 2007) or read the news - already know how it all ended. What I found a bit lacking in the book was some epilogue, in which the consequences would be discussed, or a bit more said about Springer. It's explored from a different angle (and with more about Springer) in Operation Orca: Springer, Luna and the Struggle to Save West Coast Killer Whales.
The first book in my Orca Reading Month, and what a delight. It's up there as one of my 2020 favourites.
Those familiar with the story - who have seen the documentary (The Whale, 2011/A Killer Whale Called Luna, 2010/Saving Luna, 2007) or read the news - already know how it all ended. What I found a bit lacking in the book was some epilogue, in which the consequences would be discussed, or a bit more said about Springer. It's explored from a different angle (and with more about Springer) in Operation Orca: Springer, Luna and the Struggle to Save West Coast Killer Whales.
The first book in my Orca Reading Month, and what a delight. It's up there as one of my 2020 favourites.
April 29, 2020
Read April 2020
A charity shop find, bought because of the beautiful cover.
Thankfully, the inside turned out the be a really interesting story! Glad I picked this up when I did.
A charity shop find, bought because of the beautiful cover.
Thankfully, the inside turned out the be a really interesting story! Glad I picked this up when I did.
September 13, 2021
If ever there was a mammal that could capture your heart, it's Luna; the whale that got separated from his pod and adopted the people of the area he decided to set up camp. The interactions with the whale just give the reader a sense of the individuality and personality that we have with the animal kingdom. Luna struck me as a playful child. His antics would make me smile. The fight to figure out what would be the best for Luna in and among the residents, authorities and Native peoples was frustrating and at times heartbreaking. The book started out a little slow but Luna soon roped me in and I was hooked (much like all she encountered). There are also photographs portraying Luna and the people he touched.
February 20, 2014
Beautiful, emotional, and honestly told. It's one thing to see the news reports, but it's another to see Luna through the eyes of someone who knew him firsthand. This book is absolutely a must-read - and when you're done, head over to Netflix and watch The Whale to see their story visually!
January 26, 2015
Basically a companion to the movie about Luna. What a beautiful animal. I envy all those people who interacted with him. It just shows how smart whales are and how beautiful they are.
January 16, 2021
This one made me cry on multiple occasions, completely wrecked me emotionally. Immensely, exceptionally well-written in a way that borders on poetic. I feel like this book has taught me a lot, and not only on the factual level in terms of Luna - I will absolutely be rereading it, though I’ll first need a while to recover. Absolutely beautiful. A wealth of feeling.
“But when a life out there on the other side of the wall, a life from true wilderness, that state of being we can barely comprehend, comes back the other way, to us, it breaks more than just a wall or a membrane. It is like the breaking of the law of gravity, or the speed of light, one of those immutable, established pieces of one’s understanding of the world that cannot be moved. It seems to require so much energy that it is theoretically impossible, except for the moment in which it happens.” (p. 142)
“This was not a casual thing. This was a relationship. This was two-way playfulness and trust. There was no shared language, but there was communication.” (p. 238)
“No history informs us that arrogance is wisdom, I thought, but we embrace it. No depth of experience tells us that this cruelty is necessary, but we commit it. No science tells us that this pain is truth, but we inflict it. A great life has come to us, I thought, without guile and without fear, asking us for something. Like an inept parent, we have offered him hardware, politics, transportation, medicine, advice, and money. But we haven’t offered the one gift he’s asked for: companionship. Luna has asked only for the very best of who we are: our kindness, our understanding, our love, and that ability we have to care across the wall that separates individuals - our empathy.” (p. 264-265)
“But when a life out there on the other side of the wall, a life from true wilderness, that state of being we can barely comprehend, comes back the other way, to us, it breaks more than just a wall or a membrane. It is like the breaking of the law of gravity, or the speed of light, one of those immutable, established pieces of one’s understanding of the world that cannot be moved. It seems to require so much energy that it is theoretically impossible, except for the moment in which it happens.” (p. 142)
“This was not a casual thing. This was a relationship. This was two-way playfulness and trust. There was no shared language, but there was communication.” (p. 238)
“No history informs us that arrogance is wisdom, I thought, but we embrace it. No depth of experience tells us that this cruelty is necessary, but we commit it. No science tells us that this pain is truth, but we inflict it. A great life has come to us, I thought, without guile and without fear, asking us for something. Like an inept parent, we have offered him hardware, politics, transportation, medicine, advice, and money. But we haven’t offered the one gift he’s asked for: companionship. Luna has asked only for the very best of who we are: our kindness, our understanding, our love, and that ability we have to care across the wall that separates individuals - our empathy.” (p. 264-265)
March 10, 2022
It was enlightening, fascinating and such a beautiful story on the many experiences so many had with this Orca. It truly makes you think about the big picture and how little we truly understand about the intelligence and empathy that we ignorantly assume are characteristics only possessed by human beings and not other living creatures that share our Earth.
Reading about the unique interactions the writer collected over years …not only his own interactions but the interactions and experience of the many individuals from scientists, observers, residents, volunteers, etc….who engaged with Luna, opened my eyes and perception to the reality that communication is more than just words spoken. That what we interpret as “human” intelligence that puts us above all other living creatures is actually “human” ignorance. We fail to recognize that communication is synonymous to connection, and our connection to the world around us is limited bc we cannot comprehend any other sense of communication other than speech.
We ignore the rest of our senses, underestimate their power, not only disconnecting us from one another, but also disconnecting us from the world around us, dismissing what we cannot comprehend or recognize as empathy.
The New Oxford American Dictionary defines “Empathic” as “showing the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.”
Luna was a once in a lifetime gift to those who were lucky enough to have experienced this unique, empathic opportunity.
Worth more than a ticket to the moon!!
Incredible, enlightening read!!!
Reading about the unique interactions the writer collected over years …not only his own interactions but the interactions and experience of the many individuals from scientists, observers, residents, volunteers, etc….who engaged with Luna, opened my eyes and perception to the reality that communication is more than just words spoken. That what we interpret as “human” intelligence that puts us above all other living creatures is actually “human” ignorance. We fail to recognize that communication is synonymous to connection, and our connection to the world around us is limited bc we cannot comprehend any other sense of communication other than speech.
We ignore the rest of our senses, underestimate their power, not only disconnecting us from one another, but also disconnecting us from the world around us, dismissing what we cannot comprehend or recognize as empathy.
The New Oxford American Dictionary defines “Empathic” as “showing the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.”
Luna was a once in a lifetime gift to those who were lucky enough to have experienced this unique, empathic opportunity.
Worth more than a ticket to the moon!!
Incredible, enlightening read!!!
February 16, 2014
My heart has changed towards sea life in parks. I don't believe whales should be for entertainment.
February 4, 2023
Luna touched my soul, even though I'd never met him. He lives in my mind forever. 💙
October 1, 2015
I admit that I have a major soft spot for orca whales. It might be that they are amazingly empathetic creatures or it might be that I loved Free Willy as a child or a bit of both. But that beside, this is a spectacular and moving book.
The beginning as a lot of set up where the reader is told about the humans in Luna's story and a little bit of their backgrounds, which was great later on when the story is mostly Luna centered, but is greatly affected by the humans in his life.
This book is about a beautiful soul and the decision he made and the humans that scramble to figure out was is best for him while wondering all the time if they have any clue as to what that is.
The beginning as a lot of set up where the reader is told about the humans in Luna's story and a little bit of their backgrounds, which was great later on when the story is mostly Luna centered, but is greatly affected by the humans in his life.
This book is about a beautiful soul and the decision he made and the humans that scramble to figure out was is best for him while wondering all the time if they have any clue as to what that is.
February 4, 2017
I wanted to love this book. I knew the story of Luna and picked up the book to learn more. It was highly rated so my hopes were up. Overall, I was highly disappointed. The book is entirely too wordy. It tries to give insane amounts to detail about every thing but just left me wanting more information about the whale. I felt like his story was not told nearly as well as it should have. I didn't really learn much more about the story than I had already seen in the documentary. It just read like a memoir someone would write about their best friend, white lies included. Overall I was disappointed.
February 6, 2014
Beautifully, beautifully written book. Author is able to build layers of suspense without undue drama. All points of view are carefully laid out and this story is incredibly brought to life. I felt like I could see what the author was describing. The main, haunting thing about this book is the questions it leaves you with. I don't know that we will ever "know" the "right thing" to have done in this situation, but it sort of seems like going with your gut and intuition, couldn't be wrong. I feel as if I knew Luna... just a gorgeously prepared story.
December 30, 2019
A beautiful and heart wrenching true story of a lost orca named Luna. The book is a memoir and give me an opportunity to dive into the heart of a little whale full of characters I'd never known and all the people who had loved him. It makes me cry and understand more about empathy, loneliness and the thing we call friendship is bigger than we know.
February 24, 2014
A baby shows up in the wrong part of the ocean and away from his family. The follow-up story is, of course, filled with public debate, personal emotion, and plenty of antics from the little whale. It is an interesting read -- most of the time.
March 4, 2014
I almost brought this book back to the library before I read it - I am so glad that I didn't do that! It is a fascinating, heart-warming and wrenching true story. Can't wait to see the documentary that was made from this. Never forget Luna!
December 5, 2015
Absolutely beautiful and life-changing. I can't write much more cause I can't see through the tears in my eyes.
August 24, 2025
Orcas, the Apex predators on earth, comparable to human in life, expectancy and dominion of the seas.
Relegated to lower intelligence because they are not able to speak our language or us our tools or communicate with us. But what happens when one seek us out,for companionship. This book a scope into the imperceptible intelligence of workers in a single case study of when an emotional being needs companionship and friendship.
This is Nature aberrant. When nature deviate from its normal course and the predictable becomes the unknown, it’s beautiful and tantalizing so many secrets can be uncovered by a simple natural error. It’s human with their ever differentiating opinions and motives that tend to ruin the spectacle of nature, whether it’s greed, preservation, career ambition, or pure stubbornness we tend to get in the way of the most naturalistic choice.
” you have taken me to a place where human language is just one way to get out the consciousness of living, and if our language is not the only passport to awareness we have some re-definition to do…. As different as you and I are and will always be. We are familiar we know loneliness, and we know empathy, and we see those things in each other‘s eyes, and they build our bond. These fundamental forces of emotion came with us across the greatness of time because they are necessary, not optional. The thing we call friendship is bigger than we know.
Relegated to lower intelligence because they are not able to speak our language or us our tools or communicate with us. But what happens when one seek us out,for companionship. This book a scope into the imperceptible intelligence of workers in a single case study of when an emotional being needs companionship and friendship.
This is Nature aberrant. When nature deviate from its normal course and the predictable becomes the unknown, it’s beautiful and tantalizing so many secrets can be uncovered by a simple natural error. It’s human with their ever differentiating opinions and motives that tend to ruin the spectacle of nature, whether it’s greed, preservation, career ambition, or pure stubbornness we tend to get in the way of the most naturalistic choice.
” you have taken me to a place where human language is just one way to get out the consciousness of living, and if our language is not the only passport to awareness we have some re-definition to do…. As different as you and I are and will always be. We are familiar we know loneliness, and we know empathy, and we see those things in each other‘s eyes, and they build our bond. These fundamental forces of emotion came with us across the greatness of time because they are necessary, not optional. The thing we call friendship is bigger than we know.
July 30, 2017
This is a sweet story of a lost whale's contact with humans on the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Luna, as he comes to be called, appears to be separated from his pod and begins to regularly spend his time in Nootka Sound. At first, people are strongly discouraged from having contact with the whale and various individuals are tasked from keeping people away from Luna. Plans about what to do with the little whale create conflict between government agencies, native people groups and individuals who use the Sound for work. Despite all of this, Luna continues to approach boats and interact with the people aboard by splashing and looking at people when he surfaces. The authors of the book tell the comprehensive story of the little whale, who becomes such an endearing creature, and discuss what was learned as a result of Luna's life.
April 19, 2019
There are no words to describe how much I hated this book, but I'll do my best so you don't make the same mistake.
Let's start like this. If the stars went from -5 to 5, I would give it -10. If the only thing keeping me from going to hell was a good rating and review of this book, I would suffer eternal torment. If God himself told me this was the best book in the world, I would laugh at him. There is nothing good about it.
After that, you're probably thinking "It can't be THAT bad. She must be exaggerating." You'd be right. This book is so much worse.
It all starts at the beginning. This book is obviously written by a journalist, and while I have no problem with journalists, they should understand that an article and a book have two different formats. This author (because it seems that Suzanne Chisholm was simply added for the credit) does not get that. He opens, continues, and ends in article format. This ruins a book's flow.
Next, and what dropped this score like it was a flaming alligator demanding higher taxes and more money for the 1%, was the idiocy of the author. Parfit tries, and hopefully fails, to convince the reader that Luna (a male orca, if you don't know) is better off in a bay away from all orcas, constantly surrounded by boat traffic and people who want to kill him, subjected to noise that could harm his hearing and pollutants that could poison him. Yeah, cause this is better than shipping him back to his home pod. In case you did fall for it, let me explain why the author's argument is so stupid.
1. Humans cannot provide the amount of socialization a whale needs. Boats, swimming humans, people by docks, none of it is enough. In the wild, orcas are rarely alone. Many of them are in constant contact, rubbing against each other, being in sight distance, or simply always being heard (unless they are transient, which Luna is not). Luna had none of this. Humans could not give him the amount of contact a healthy young orca requires.
2. Luna, as a male orca, would have had to mate if he survived. However, he was never around other orcas, so that chance would never have come. Not only that, but male killer whales also learn how to mate by practicing with each other or within their pods (no, it is not like that). Luna could not do that, so his chances of mating are lowered. When he matured, he could have become dangerous out of frustration. This puts surrounding board and people in danger, as he might take it out on them. Yes, he was a friendly calf, but he was not yet mature.
3. Interacting with any boats teaches him bad habits. Luna learns that if he goes to a boat, he gets attention. So, he goes to a boat, and gets attention. The author claims that this is good. He's being socially active. He is wrong. Luna instead learns not to fear boats, even ones with dangerous additions. This actually is why he died. He got too close to a boat, and it killed him. Accidents like this happen to many whales and dolphins like him. It is almost unheard of that it doesn't end this way. If they freed him, allowed the truck ride and temporary captivity, Luna would have had a much longer life.
4. People. Resident orcas like Luna eat fish. There will always be people who claim he endangers their jobs because he eats the fish they want to catch. There were even people ready to kill him, and the author saw no correlation. Luna however didn't know this. He didn't know that some people who used to be friends now wanted to kill him. He may have one day gone over to a new boat, where people came from someplace else. He wanted to meet new people. The humans could have become frightened, or simply have been sick, and shot Luna to death. This actually happened for years around the world. Before Luna's time, of course, but it was still recent enough to be in everyone's memories. Luna would have no fear of humans, and that could have been his downfall. Of course, a boat chewed him up and spit him back out first.
5. Bays, especially ones with fish farms and boats, are polluted (If you don't believe me about fish farms, the bit of Listening to Whales gets into that). Pollutants, such as fertilizer, fish poo (excessive amounts), fish pellets, and oil leakages, along with the normal plastics and cans, enter the water here. None of these are good for Luna's health, and can hurt his eyes, blowhole, and stomach. Maybe he doesn't swallow something, but his meal did. Now that is inside him, wrecking havoc. It is honestly a miracle he didn't get sick, especially since it can be so much worse in places like the one he lived. The noise, too, is a pollutant. Killer whales have sensitive hearing. Luna would have had to listen to the roar of boat engines, the lumber mill, and possible seal scarers (something used by fish farms to ward off seals, at decibels high enough to give a human, who does not have quite as sensitive hearing, pain). Depending on the day, he would have to listen to that constantly, unable to escape. A lone orca in the ocean, especially as young as him, wouldn't survive long elsewhere. If he were with his pod, he would not be subject to this torment.
There you go. That's why you shouldn't read this. The author proposes ideas and for Luna's health and safety, and does not know how to write a book. If you STILL want to read this book, then I don't know what's going on inside that head of yours.
Let's start like this. If the stars went from -5 to 5, I would give it -10. If the only thing keeping me from going to hell was a good rating and review of this book, I would suffer eternal torment. If God himself told me this was the best book in the world, I would laugh at him. There is nothing good about it.
After that, you're probably thinking "It can't be THAT bad. She must be exaggerating." You'd be right. This book is so much worse.
It all starts at the beginning. This book is obviously written by a journalist, and while I have no problem with journalists, they should understand that an article and a book have two different formats. This author (because it seems that Suzanne Chisholm was simply added for the credit) does not get that. He opens, continues, and ends in article format. This ruins a book's flow.
Next, and what dropped this score like it was a flaming alligator demanding higher taxes and more money for the 1%, was the idiocy of the author. Parfit tries, and hopefully fails, to convince the reader that Luna (a male orca, if you don't know) is better off in a bay away from all orcas, constantly surrounded by boat traffic and people who want to kill him, subjected to noise that could harm his hearing and pollutants that could poison him. Yeah, cause this is better than shipping him back to his home pod. In case you did fall for it, let me explain why the author's argument is so stupid.
1. Humans cannot provide the amount of socialization a whale needs. Boats, swimming humans, people by docks, none of it is enough. In the wild, orcas are rarely alone. Many of them are in constant contact, rubbing against each other, being in sight distance, or simply always being heard (unless they are transient, which Luna is not). Luna had none of this. Humans could not give him the amount of contact a healthy young orca requires.
2. Luna, as a male orca, would have had to mate if he survived. However, he was never around other orcas, so that chance would never have come. Not only that, but male killer whales also learn how to mate by practicing with each other or within their pods (no, it is not like that). Luna could not do that, so his chances of mating are lowered. When he matured, he could have become dangerous out of frustration. This puts surrounding board and people in danger, as he might take it out on them. Yes, he was a friendly calf, but he was not yet mature.
3. Interacting with any boats teaches him bad habits. Luna learns that if he goes to a boat, he gets attention. So, he goes to a boat, and gets attention. The author claims that this is good. He's being socially active. He is wrong. Luna instead learns not to fear boats, even ones with dangerous additions. This actually is why he died. He got too close to a boat, and it killed him. Accidents like this happen to many whales and dolphins like him. It is almost unheard of that it doesn't end this way. If they freed him, allowed the truck ride and temporary captivity, Luna would have had a much longer life.
4. People. Resident orcas like Luna eat fish. There will always be people who claim he endangers their jobs because he eats the fish they want to catch. There were even people ready to kill him, and the author saw no correlation. Luna however didn't know this. He didn't know that some people who used to be friends now wanted to kill him. He may have one day gone over to a new boat, where people came from someplace else. He wanted to meet new people. The humans could have become frightened, or simply have been sick, and shot Luna to death. This actually happened for years around the world. Before Luna's time, of course, but it was still recent enough to be in everyone's memories. Luna would have no fear of humans, and that could have been his downfall. Of course, a boat chewed him up and spit him back out first.
5. Bays, especially ones with fish farms and boats, are polluted (If you don't believe me about fish farms, the bit of Listening to Whales gets into that). Pollutants, such as fertilizer, fish poo (excessive amounts), fish pellets, and oil leakages, along with the normal plastics and cans, enter the water here. None of these are good for Luna's health, and can hurt his eyes, blowhole, and stomach. Maybe he doesn't swallow something, but his meal did. Now that is inside him, wrecking havoc. It is honestly a miracle he didn't get sick, especially since it can be so much worse in places like the one he lived. The noise, too, is a pollutant. Killer whales have sensitive hearing. Luna would have had to listen to the roar of boat engines, the lumber mill, and possible seal scarers (something used by fish farms to ward off seals, at decibels high enough to give a human, who does not have quite as sensitive hearing, pain). Depending on the day, he would have to listen to that constantly, unable to escape. A lone orca in the ocean, especially as young as him, wouldn't survive long elsewhere. If he were with his pod, he would not be subject to this torment.
There you go. That's why you shouldn't read this. The author proposes ideas and for Luna's health and safety, and does not know how to write a book. If you STILL want to read this book, then I don't know what's going on inside that head of yours.
July 21, 2020
I loved following the journey of Luna. The experience of whale and human and the relationship that became woven together only increased my love for my fellow mammal who lives in the sea. The ending was hard after I’d fallen in love with Luna. I was cheering for him throughout the book and heartbroken that he didn’t make it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2024
MAYBE THIS DID TAKE ME 50192727362827 DAYS TO READ BUT. this book was SO. Good. I loved all of the experiences with Luna and I am so jealous and sad I could not meet Luna because sadly he died a year before I was born 😢 REST IN PEACE LUNA THIS BOOK HAD ME IN SHAMBLES AT THE END I SOBBED AND THEN I LOOKED BACK AT THE PICTURES OF LUNA AND SOBBED SOME MORE. Amazing book though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2019
Lost orca
It was an excellent book.you either loved luna felt sorry for or bot h.its amazing how one orca change the lives of a community. I would recommend th i s book to @nyone who loves mammals
It was an excellent book.you either loved luna felt sorry for or bot h.its amazing how one orca change the lives of a community. I would recommend th i s book to @nyone who loves mammals
February 23, 2024
What an uplifting story...very needed in this day and age! I loved Luna and wanted only the best for this poor lost soul who found love and companionship with another species. My heart goes out to each and every one of the participants who made his life a bit more enjoyable and less lonely.
August 9, 2022
Interesting enough, but also a very niche topic that moved in a very slow way for me.
February 6, 2024
Impactful story. Definitely moved by the nature of Luna’s need to reach out to the humans for social interaction, and what a journey, as the humans and governing bodies determine what’s best to do in this unusual circumstance. Not likely to forget this story!
May 15, 2020
An endearing but tragic true story about a young Orca that gets separated from his family. He finds himself stuck in a bay in the waters of SW Canada and spends years as an integral member of the local people's society.
June 2, 2015
If you love dolphins and whales as much as I do, this can be a really enriching, heartwarming, and heartbreaking read.
First things first, I learned a lot. As much as I'd like to think of myself as a dolphin/whale/cetacean/ocean enthusiast, I didn't know that the Southern Resident Killer Whales are endangered. Somehow, I know all about endangered blue whales and endangered right whales. I was completely bummed out when the Yangtze River dolphin went extinct, but I hadn't come across much about SRKWs and how there are so few of them left. Until now.
The scene with the canoes and the singing is really beautiful and poignant and excessively memorable. My other favorite parts -- and there are a lot of them! -- revolve around Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chrisholm approaching the topic in entirely new way. There isn't an over-arching agenda; there is just a deep and empathetic conflict about what is best for Luna (the whale). It's complex. Parfit admits there may be things that we still don't understand and things we still don't know. The book's raw honesty and people's completely genuine connection with Luna are amazing and beautiful and gut-wrenching.
First things first, I learned a lot. As much as I'd like to think of myself as a dolphin/whale/cetacean/ocean enthusiast, I didn't know that the Southern Resident Killer Whales are endangered. Somehow, I know all about endangered blue whales and endangered right whales. I was completely bummed out when the Yangtze River dolphin went extinct, but I hadn't come across much about SRKWs and how there are so few of them left. Until now.
The scene with the canoes and the singing is really beautiful and poignant and excessively memorable. My other favorite parts -- and there are a lot of them! -- revolve around Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chrisholm approaching the topic in entirely new way. There isn't an over-arching agenda; there is just a deep and empathetic conflict about what is best for Luna (the whale). It's complex. Parfit admits there may be things that we still don't understand and things we still don't know. The book's raw honesty and people's completely genuine connection with Luna are amazing and beautiful and gut-wrenching.
January 9, 2018
I should probably wait until my emotions have had a chance to fully process this book before writing my review but I feel the need to put something down now. What a beautiful, fascinating and deeply touching story on so many levels. It is about much more than a whale; it is about humanity, too. Somehow, I did not know of this story (or how it would turn out) from the news or the documentary film. I stumbled upon the book while looking for books on dolphins and whales and decided to read it before watching the film. I haven’t watched the movie yet, but the book was wonderful and very emotional. (If you don’t already know the story and are interested, do yourself a favor and do not look up anything on the internet. Read the book from beginning to end and just let the story unfold without any previous knowledge.) Now that I’ve finished the book, I look forward to watching the documentary even more, so that I can see footage of Luna in action.
December 6, 2022
well written book about sweet Luna, and all the people who loved him! This was a great read, it is wonderful to hear about all the people who cared so much about a very special whale.
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