Humpback whales to the rescue (1 Viewer)

[Linda]

Here is a link to a story about humpback whales rescuing other ocean dwellers from Orca hunts. What I find amazing is that this behavior is not limited to their own calves, but is extended to seals and other species.

Marine ecologist Robert Pitman observed a particularly dramatic example of this behavior back in 2009, while observing a pod of killer whales hunting a Weddell seal trapped on an ice floe off Antarctica. The orcas were able to successfully knock the seal off the ice, and just as they were closing in for the kill, a magnificent humpback whale suddenly rose up out of the water beneath the seal.


This was no mere accident. In order to better protect the seal, the whale placed it safely on its upturned belly to keep it out of the water. As the seal slipped down the whale's side, the humpback appeared to use its flippers to carefully help the seal back aboard. Finally, when the coast was clear, the seal was able to safely swim off to another, more secure ice floe.

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/humpback-whales-around-globe-are-mysteriously-rescuing-animals-orcas

 

[Stargazer]

Here is a link to a story about humpback whales rescuing other ocean dwellers from Orca hunts.

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/humpback-whales-around-globe-are-mysteriously-rescuing-animals-orcas

OMG...the footage of those Orcas swimming in a long, perfect line was amazing! So thrilling--and frightening. They're such beautiful creatures (despite their unfortunate diet).

 

[Brooke]

Awesome!

OMG...the footage of those Orcas swimming in a long, perfect line was amazing! So thrilling--and frightening. They're such beautiful creatures (despite their unfortunate diet).

They are incredibly intelligent & efficient hunters too! I remember watching a video of one teaching it's young how to hunt. It would trap a seal on an iceberg & then push it up to make it fall in the water, but instead of eating it, it kept pushing it back up for practice. Poor thing must have been terrified!