The whale, nicknamed Luna by scientists, briefly followed a yellow Zodiak-type boat being used to lure him into a floating pen on Nootka Sound near the village of Gold River, but then swam off to eat on his own and officials gave up their effort for the day, witnesses said.

Members of the Mowachaht-Muchalaht Indian band, who oppose the relocation effort, were also active on the large ocean inlet on western Vancouver Island. They paddled behind the animal they call Tsu 'Xiit in the same dugout canoes they used to lure him away from the capture area on Wednesday.

The whale's penchant for following boats and interacting with people is the primary reason scientists believe it should be captured and moved to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, more than 130 miles away on the Canada-U.S. border, where Luna's family pod normally spends the summer.

Killer whales normally spend their entire lives with their family pods, but 4-year-old Luna, whose official name is L98, became separated from its pod for unknown reasons three years ago and was found swimming alone in Nootka Sound.

The Mowachaht-Muchalaht band say the whale arrived in its territory a week after the death of a chief who had said his spirit would return as a killer whale -- a culturally important animal for many Indian bands on Canada's Pacific Coast.

The aboriginal group wants the whale to remain in Nootka Sound, where they believe it can be protected.

Whale experts say orcas are very social marine mammals, and Luna's search for human companionship resulted in his interfering with boats and float planes that could injure or kill him in a collision.