Near Seattle, USA, a harbour seal escaped a group of hunting killer whales by leaping onto a boat.
Wildlife photographer Charvet Drucker was out in a small boat on the Salish Sea when she saw at least eight orcas working together to catch a seal. The dramatic moment was caught on camera.
At first, it looked like the seal wouldn’t survive. Drucker photographed it flying through the air as the orcas splashed and swam below. But just as the whales closed in, the seal climbed onto the back of Drucker’s boat, using it like a floating island.
Following local rules, the boat’s engine was turned off to avoid harming the whales, and no one was allowed to touch the seal. Drucker began filming as the seal looked up at her, safe for the moment.
The orcas didn’t give up easily. They tried to rock the boat by diving in turns, creating waves to knock the seal off. This smart trick, called “wave-washing,” has been seen before by scientists. Even after slipping off once, the seal managed to climb back on.
After about 15 minutes, the whales gave up and swam away. Drucker, who usually supports the orcas, admitted she cheered for the seal this time. The orcas in the area, known as Bigg’s or transient orcas, are skilled hunters that eat many types of sea animals, unlike some other orcas that only eat fish.
