Wave Hunting: Orcas Prey on Seal | Antarctica | Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

Editorial Summary

While traveling in Antarctica aboard the National Geographic Explorer, passengers witnessed a rare predatory encounter involving a pod of killer whales and a crabeater seal. The creator describes how the whales utilized a specific hunting tactic known as wave washing to target the seal resting on an ice floe. This coordinated effort involved the whales swimming in unison to create waves intended to knock the animal into the water. The transcript notes that the seal was highly agile and managed to return to the ice multiple times during the encounter. As the hunt progressed, the killer whales attempted to break the ice floe into smaller pieces by chipping away at it. Despite the shrinking surface area of the ice, the seal eventually managed to escape to a different ice floe. The creator observes that the seal made a quick move perpendicular to the whales while their backs were turned. The group jokingly named the successful seal Kevin. The video concludes with the creator stating that this event was one of the most amazing wildlife encounters witnessed in the wild.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.