Rob Butler

Willy the false killer whale alongside a freighter in Vancouver Harbour, 2003

Some solitary false killer whales have become "friendly" around humans, following vessels. One such animal, nicknamed "Willy", became resident in Barkley Sound, B.C. and "adopted" a vessel, the Lady Rose. When the Lady Rose was brought to Vancouver for a steamship festival, Willy followed along and must have lost her amongst all the boat traffic. Willy stayed around Vancouver Harbour for many years and became well-known to sailors and vessel captains. In 2003, Willy travelled north to Juneau, Alaska and back - and the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network was able to track his travels via regular reports from our observers up and down the coast.