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list price: $34.95
edition:Hardcover
category: Nature
published: Oct 2007
ISBN:9781550174267
publisher: Harbour Publishing Co. Ltd.

Operation Orca

Springer, Luna and the Struggle to Save West Coast Killer Whales

by Daniel Francis & Gill Hewlett

tagged: marine life, animal rights
Description

Winner of Foreword Magazine's Best Nature Non-Fiction Award.

In 1964 when the Vancouver Aquarium obtained its first killer whale, Moby Doll, the prevalent attitudes towards killer whales was that they were fierce and vicious man-eaters. Over the years, attitudes have begun to change, and orcas are now revered as loveable, intelligent creatures and iconic symbols of the marine environment.

In January 2002, a young killer whale was discovered alone in the waters of Puget Sound near Seattle. Determining that the whale would not survive alone so far from home, a team of scientists captured "Springer" and transported her by boat north to her home range where she rejoined her family.

At the same time Springer was making her historic journey, another lone whale turned up in Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The people of Nootka Sound adopted "Luna" as their own, but he was a large, boisterous youngster who liked to cuddle boats and the government feared he would get into trouble. Another rescue was planned to return Luna to his family but this time there was no happy ending.

In Operation Orca, winner of the 2008 Foreword Magazine Nature Book of the Year award, author Daniel Francis and long-time Vancouver Aquarium staff member Gil Hewlett give breadth to the complications, contradictions, and political posturing that twice engulfed the debate of whether to interfere or let nature take its course. Through the amazing story of these two "orphan" whales, Operation Orca tells the larger story of orcas in the Pacific Northwest, the people who have studied them and the transformation of the whale's image from killer to icon.

About the Authors

Daniel Francis has written over thirty books, primarily about Canadian and BC history. He has received an Award of Merit from the Vancouver Historical Society for significant contributions to the history of Vancouver and British Columbia, as well as the prestigious Pierre Berton Award. He lives in North Vancouver, BC.


Gil Hewlett joined the Vancouver Aquarium as the resident biologist in 1964. He has helped train many of the Aquarium's whales, including Skana and Hyak. Hewlett retired from the position of Assistant Director of Special Projects in March 2006.
Awards
  • Winner, Foreword Magazine Nature Book of the Year
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