Springer? The little female? I investigated a little bit, and I was wrong. Apparently she is OK and that's really good news. She was seen again in July 2003 with A-pod, her grandmother's pod, where she was relocated a year ago. Here's a photo from 2002.
It is Luna, the male, who is still having problems, complicated by being from Puget Sound but in Canadian waters. He is still a loner:
from the Dec. 13, 2003 KOMO TV news website
Quote:(Keiko's death will not deter)... next spring's planned relocation of a young killer whale from waters off Vancouver Island to his home waters in Washington state.
"We are not daunted by this in our quest to see Luna get back home," he said.
Canada and the United States plan to collaborate in an effort to move the young male from remote Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island to his home waters.
Whale experts hope he will reunite with "L" pod, his family.
Luna has been Canadian waters since he became separated from his family more than two years ago. He has grown increasingly aggressive in his interaction with boats, posing risks to both himself and boaters.
After consulting with experts, Canada decided this fall to attempt the move in the spring.
Last year, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service and Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans worked with public and private groups to successfully relocate an orphaned Canadian killer whale - 2-year-old A-73, also called Springer - from busy Puget Sound to waters near Vancouver Island, where she rejoined her family.
This is a cool map showing the latest sightings in this area:
Orca Sightings Map
