Pod of orcas trapped in drift ice off Japanese coast

Concern is growing for the welfare of a pod of orcas that appear to have become trapped in drift ice off the coast of Hokkaido in northern Japan.

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Footage showed at least 10 orcas poking out of a small gap in the surface of the water about 1 km off the coast of Rausu on the Shiretoko peninsula – a Unesco world heritage site famed for its abundant wildlife.

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#Orcas #Nature #Wildlife #Japan

29 comments
  1. Was the ship passing by the ice breaker the Orcas needed in order to follow an open ice-free lane to the open ocean? Or was that a helicopter flying over the tiny hole of Orcas?

  2. they are smart animals that can crush ice using their tails like when hunting seals and humans should not help in the life process of sea animals this is the law of nature

  3. Just here going through the comments section with people seriously thinking their lives are in danger. Lol! They are enjoying some sunshine and partying. Even if their lives were actually in danger, it's none of our business to interfere. I don't want to see orcas going to prisons for murdering seals, either.

  4. After environmental groups raised concerns, town officials travelled to the coast later on Tuesday and saw about a dozen orcas bobbing up and down in a tiny gap surrounded by drift ice about half a mile offshore.

    Concern for orcas trapped in drift ice off Hokkaido coast in Japan

    They returned to the coast on Tuesday evening and saw that the pod had moved to the north, and it was gone when they returned again on Wednesday, said Masataka Shirayanagi, a Rausu official.

    Officials said they believed the orcas were able to free themselves as gaps between the drift ice grew. Shirayanagi said: “We believe they were able to escape safely.”

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