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Killer whale plays with dog on fishing boat
Luna the orca appears to tease a dog on a passing fishing boat
Cases of humans and killer whales striking up friendships are well known and have even been the subject of popular Disney films. Orcas bonding with canines, however, is another matter - although scientists have begun to think that virtually all mammals share a primitive communication system.
The video above shows the startling interaction between an Orca called Luna and a dog taking a ride on a passing fishing boat. The whale actively tries to "kiss" the dog and even rolls over onto her side in what an expert has called "submissive, playful behaviour".
The affection shown in this video highlights the drastic difference in temperament between orcas living in the wild and those in captivity. Tillikum, another killer whale, had been captured off the coast of Iceland in 1982 before spending almost 10 years in captivity. On February 20, 1991 he killed his trainer, 20 year-old Keltie Byrne, dragging her underwater by her ponytail and eventually drowning her.
Since the 1970s there have been over 20 incidents of killer whales attacking humans - all of them committed by orcas in captivity. ·
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Yes Sue this is an old video. Luna was thought by the Indians (First Nations) of British Columbia to be a chief returning from the dead, and they prevented his return to his pod. Just Google "Luna the whale" and you will get the whole story. Luna was at the centre of a tug-of-war between several groups who all had different ideas as to how best to react to a whale that was engaging humans. Most of the residents of the coastal fishing village loved Luna, but there were a few who saw him as a pest. The government wanted to keep people away from Luna and relocate him while the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations tried to resist the move.
so what are you saying cora acora - this is just an old video - whats your point?
Ummm... Luna was killed by a Tug 2 years ago. He was isolated from his pod and was prevented by the first nations from returning him to the Southern Resident Killer Whale community called "L-pod". He got so lonely he turned to dogs, people, boats.. whatever to get companionship.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002858136_luna11m.html
Just this week, the tug that Killed Luna sank of the coat of Oregon.
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/44789--barge-pulled-by-new-we...
This orqua - now dead - was the subject of a documentary, Saving Luna.
http://www.mountainsidefilms.com/savingluna/
Exactly what I was thinking. I notice the dog had the sense not to jump into the water - which it was free to do. We should be very wary of projecting our own wishes into animal behaviour.
It may be lovely...but don't Orca's eat seals for lunch? There's more than a passing resemblence between dog and seal, so may be the whale's just sniffing out his next snack....