Takaya

This beautiful mural by Paul Archer ( Archer Airbrushing Online Studio Gallery Archer Airbrushing ) honours Takaya and Luna the orca...two lone wild creatures with powerful stories. Like Takaya, Luna had made the unusual choice to live apart from others of his kind, in close proximity to a human community on Vancouver Island. Like Takaya, Luna met a tragic end. Yet, like Takaya, Luna touched people around the globe and transcended the boundary between the wild and human world...s. This mural was commissioned by Lynda (pictured), a lifelong lover of wolves and wildlife. After seeing the beautiful mural of Takaya that Paul Archer painted on his studio, Lynda asked him to paint this mural for her home on Dallas Road in Victoria. Lynda plans to eventually install the artwork in her front yard, where it will be visible to passing traffic and tourists. She hopes that this will inspire visitors (and locals) to learn more about the stories of these two remarkable coastal creatures. For now, Lynda keeps the mural in her backyard, where it is hidden from passersby. On occasion, she will sit on a wooden bench facing the mural, gazing at this painting and the ocean beyond, reflecting on the legacies of Luna and Takaya.

One of Takaya’s islands, enveloped in blue skies and seas. Takaya could often be spotted on this point, wandering along the water, patrolling the perimeter of his tiny territory!

Takaya’s Journey: A Poem Alone, he roamed the star-strewn streets Of once-wild lands made tame and grey, Alone, he crossed the storm-swept seas... In search of a safe place to stay. Alone, he learned to live within A web of wild things on the shore, Alone, he ate his evening meals, And howled a wish for something more. Alone, he watched the half-wild folk Who came and went upon the sea, Alone, he wondered if they felt Adrift or anchored, lost or free. Alone, he spent his twilight years, Still keen to roam, still wild at heart; Alone, he left his island home, Searching for a brand-new start. Alone, he met a tragic end, And rests now in an unknown grave. Alone, he showed us what we have To loseand what we have to save. -Anonymous

WE ALL HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE WOLVES OF BC...NOT JUST HUNTERS! I spent most of my professional career designing and facilitating environmental decision-making processes that included all interest groups with a stake in the outcome...a necessity in order to ensure full buy-in by all those affected by any decision. The management and killing of wolves, iconic apex predators, is of significance to all British Columbians. I am therefore concerned when I hear that Katrine Conroy,... the BC Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources, was not aware that there were no limits on trapping wolves in BC and that she would work with the BC Wildlife Federation to change this. I believe she may also not be aware of other flaws in current wolf-hunting regulations as well. Other areas of concern are identified in a background document we have prepared - available at www.takayaslegacy.com The BC Wildlife Federation is primarily a hunting lobby group. If the people of BC are to trust our government with management of our wolves, I would strongly suggest that all interest groups, including independent scientists, be included in any review of regulations governing the killing of wolves. This is an unparalleled opportunity for the government to openly address the issue of the recreational killing of wildlife and to bring government actions into alignment with current social values and scientific knowledge. As Leonard Cohen has so eloquently said, "there is a crack, a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in" To the government of BC, let's enter this crack and find the light, together. Pacific Wild Raincoast Conservation Foundation Wolf Awareness BC Wildlife Federation Barb Murray John E. Marriott Wildlife and Nature Photography #TAKAYA #takayalonewolf #coexistence #wolves

Swipe to see why B.C.‘s wolf management plan needs to be re-examined. For more information about the status of B.C. wolves and provincial hunting regulations, please go to http://takayaslegacy.com Make your voice heard. Send an email to Minister Conroy to request a moratorium on wolf killing until government regulations concerning wolf management are brought into line with current social values and science. ... Email to: Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development [email protected]