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CNN SUNDAY MORNING
Whale Trouble
Aired October 19, 2003 - 07:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we all remember the media frenzy surrounding Kaco the Killer Whale, but what happens to the wayward whales that aren't famous?
Sarah Galashan of CNN affiliate CTV tells us about the efforts to free Luna.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARAH GALASHAN, CTV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For two years, these waters have been home. The boats and people have been his family.
But now L-98, the lonely killer whale nicknamed Luna, a crowd favorite, is coming too close for comfort.
MARILYN JOYCE, DEPT. OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS: At this point, no one's been directly hurt, but we've had a few boats that have been disabled.
GALASHAN: That's why most agree the whale has got to go. The options range from captivity to euthanasia. Removing him from the gold river waters and reuniting him with his (unintelligible) at the bottom tip of Vancouver Island is the one most favored.
The problem is the price.
JOHN NIGHTENGALE, VANCOUVER AQUARIUM: Yes, I think it is the big problem now. I mean, this is going to be a very costly thing to do.
GALASHAN: He knows because he's done it before. Last year, the Vancouver Aquarium and public donations paid a good portion of the $600,000 need to move Springer, the sick orca. That whale is now swimming with the cod. The mission was a success, but it's something the aquarium can't afford to do again, as much as it may like to.
NIGHTENGALE: We aren't aware of anyone who has the financial resources to complete this operation.
GALASHAN: Since the (unintelligible) sometimes swims into their waters, Americans are showing an interest in the plan, but have yet to say how much of the bill they'd be willing to pay.
(on camera): And while Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans won't put up the money, they will choose who moves the whale and where, a decision they've got to make quickly. Before Luna's (unintelligible) swims away for the winter.
MARK PAKENHAM, LUNA STEWARDSHIP PROJECT: Last couple of years, they remained until January. So we're running out of out time, but we still have a couple months left.
GALASHAN: A couple of months to get the whale to waters where he and his family where he and his family stand a chance of meeting up. The reunion everybody would like to see, but one nobody is eager to pay for.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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