A family of killer whales was captured trapped between drift ice on the beach and unable to get out.
According to Japan’s NHK and Asahi TV on the 6th, a pod of killer whales was captured trapped in drift ice off the coast of Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido this morning.
According to a video released by the media, about 15 killer whales were barely breathing with only their faces sticking out through a crack in the broken ice.
The trapped killer whales sometimes appeared to be trying to escape by moving their bodies up and down or sinking into the sea and then jumping up loudly.
It is known that killer whales, which are mammals, breathe through their noses and have a diving time of only a few minutes. It is reported that among them was a baby killer whale that needed protection.
The pod of killer whales was first discovered by nearby fishermen around 8 a.m. that day. At the time, they reported through a shipping company that “the killer whale appears to be trapped in the drift ice.”
Killer whales stuck between drift ice and only breathing with their heads out. NHK News YouTube captureAfterwards, marine life expert Seiichiro Tsuchiya arrived at the sea area and filmed a pod of killer whales with a drone. He told the media, “Because the hole was small, the entire group of killer whales stood up vertically, sticking out their heads, and seemed to be breathing hard.”
The Japanese Coast Guard responded to the report and attempted to rescue the killer whale, but failed. This is because the nearby sea was all covered with hard and thick drift ice, making it difficult for ships capable of breaking the drift ice to even approach the pod of killer whales.
A Coast Guard official said, “We are considering countermeasures, but we have no choice but to wait until the ice breaks down and we can swim on our own.”
The Rausu Coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula receives large amounts of drift ice from Siberia, Russia every year. This is not the first time killer whales have been trapped due to the influx of drift ice. In 2005, 12 orcas were trapped in drift ice here and rescue efforts were conducted. However, several animals died during this process.
Choi Jae-ho,
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.