During a recent whale-watching excursion near Seattle, a wildlife photographer recorded a remarkable event involving orcas and a seal. Charvet Drucker, located approximately 40 miles northwest of Seattle in the Salish Sea, witnessed a pod of killer whales engaging in a high-stakes hunt.
Seal Evades Killer Whales by Leaping onto Photographer’s Boat
Drucker was on a rented 20-foot boat when she observed at least eight orcas interacting in a manner that indicated a coordinated hunt. Using her camera’s zoom lens, she focused on a harbor seal that appeared desperate to escape the pursuing whales. One alarming moment captured the seal airborne above the orcas, as they stirred the waters with their powerful movements. Drucker thought she was witnessing the seal’s final moments.
The Life-Saving Boat Rescue
As the killer whales advanced, Drucker and her group adhered to wildlife boating regulations by cutting their engine to avoid disturbing the orcas. In a stunning turn of events, the seal managed to leap onto the boat’s stern, effectively transforming it into a temporary safe haven. Drucker began filming as she offered comforting words to the frightened creature.
- Drucken voiced her concern for the seal, saying, “You poor thing. You’re good, just stay, buddy.”
- The orcas continued to apply pressure, employing a technique known as “wave-washing” in an effort to dislodge the seal.
- This behavior, scientifically documented since the 1980s by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, involves orcas creating waves to unsettle prey.
Throughout the tense 15-minute encounter, the seal slipped off the platform at least once but managed to cling on. Eventually, the orcas abandoned their pursuit and swam away.
Drucker’s Sentiments on Nature
Having previously photographed orcas with seals as their catch, Drucker expressed a complex emotional response. “I’m definitely team orca, all day, every day. But once that seal was on the boat, I kind of turned [into] team seal,” she remarked in an interview.
The orcas in this area are known as Bigg’s or “transient” orcas. This group hunts a variety of marine life and is better nourished than the endangered “resident” orcas that primarily feed on salmon, according to NOAA.
Drucker’s video not only highlights the raw unpredictability of wildlife interactions but also serves as a reminder of the delicate balance in marine ecosystems.
