A rather unusual friendship has developed between an 11-year-old Vanderhoof boy and a false killer whale at the Vancouver Aquarium over the past year.
Chester, the false killer whale, a rescued and rehabilitated mammal that was released into a large tank at the aquarium, started to recognize Lucas, a Vanderhoof boy who visited the aquarium often.
Lucas would go to the underwater windows and spend time watching Chester, but as it turns out Lucas wasn't the only one watching. Chester began to follow Lucas as he walked from observation window to observation window. Chester would wiggle with excitement and offer Lucas a charming toothy grin in his unique false killer whale way.
Since Lucas was five years old, he has spent a lot of time down south while he's at B.C. Children's Hospital during his regular neurology and ophthalmology check ups because he has medical conditions pertaining to his brain and eyes, said Claire Nielsen, Lucas' mom.
So between appointments Nielsen decided to pass the time by visiting the aquarium that both mom and son find so fascinating, she said.
The Marine Mammal Rescue Organization is part of the Vancouver Aquarium and saves marine mammals and then preferably releases them back into the wild.
Since Chester was only a baby when he was floundering near Tofino's North Chesterman beach, he was deemed unable to care for himself in the wild by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and is now cared for permanently at the aquarium.
For Lucas, one of last year's visits to Children's Hospital was six weeks long and he and mom must have visited the aquarium at least 15 times, said Nielsen.
"That's when Chester started to recognize Lucas," said Nielsen, who has had a membership to the aquarium since Lucas was seven years old.
"And that's when Lucas decided to do a project about Chester."
Lucas, who is home schooled, found out everything he could about Chester and false killer whales.
When the project was finished Lucas presented it to the staff at the Vancouver Aquarium, said his mom.
"A bit of the stuff I presented was stuff the staff didn't know about him," said Lucas, who was nervous at first to give his presentation. "I think the aquarium is just awesome. They've done so much to help Chester and save him."
"The staff was amazed that Chester had a friendship with Lucas that was unusual and special," said Nielsen.
After the presentation, Lucas got a rare on-deck visit with Chester where Lucas could feed and pet him.
Even after about a six-month absence, Chester still recognized Lucas when he returned to the aquarium this February.
"It was like Lucas was never gone," said Nielsen. "Chester was wiggling and smiling and chattering and sticking out his tongue so there was a lot of unique interaction."
Lucas is presenting his project to several schools in Vanderhoof and is open to invitations from other schools or organizations.
To reach Lucas and Claire email [email protected].
