9 of 14 populations of Humpback whales off endangered list
- Thread starter LadyStanley
- Start date
They are also the peace keepers of the ocean it seems.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/humpbacks-fight-off-orcas-to-save-sea-lion-1.3771045
Naturalist Alethea Leddy with the Port Angeles Whale Watch Company was one of the first on the scene and watched the whole encounter unfold.
"The water boiled all around as the orcas tried to separate the sea lion from the humpbacks," she recalled.
"It was a wild scene with the humpbacks even circling the sea lion trying to keep him safe, while he frantically struggled to get his breath. The anxiety of the humpbacks was palpable, and they took turns diving and slashing at the orcas.
Veteran Capt. Russ Nicks of B.C. Whale Tours of Victoria also saw the attack — and the defence.
"What we witnessed was pure aggression," Nicks remembereds. "We had four humpbacks trumpeting, rolling on their sides, flukes up in the air multiple times."
"The killer whales split many times into two groups, with one that appeared to try to draw the humpbacks away from the sea lion. The other group would go in for the attack, while the humpbacks were safely away — but then they'd get in the middle of it again, fighting the orcas off. It was amazing to watch."
Eventually, the humpbacks appeared to win the battle with both sides going their separate ways, including the sea lion who stuck with the humpbacks until it was safely out of sight from the hungry killer whales.
"I think the Stellar sea lion was well aware that he had some help out there, and he was lucky he did, because he would have been lunch," said Harris.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/humpbacks-fight-off-orcas-to-save-sea-lion-1.3771045
Naturalist Alethea Leddy with the Port Angeles Whale Watch Company was one of the first on the scene and watched the whole encounter unfold.
"The water boiled all around as the orcas tried to separate the sea lion from the humpbacks," she recalled.
"It was a wild scene with the humpbacks even circling the sea lion trying to keep him safe, while he frantically struggled to get his breath. The anxiety of the humpbacks was palpable, and they took turns diving and slashing at the orcas.
Veteran Capt. Russ Nicks of B.C. Whale Tours of Victoria also saw the attack — and the defence.
"What we witnessed was pure aggression," Nicks remembereds. "We had four humpbacks trumpeting, rolling on their sides, flukes up in the air multiple times."
"The killer whales split many times into two groups, with one that appeared to try to draw the humpbacks away from the sea lion. The other group would go in for the attack, while the humpbacks were safely away — but then they'd get in the middle of it again, fighting the orcas off. It was amazing to watch."
Eventually, the humpbacks appeared to win the battle with both sides going their separate ways, including the sea lion who stuck with the humpbacks until it was safely out of sight from the hungry killer whales.
"I think the Stellar sea lion was well aware that he had some help out there, and he was lucky he did, because he would have been lunch," said Harris.
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