- A pod of 10 orcas is trapped in drift sea ice on Japan’s main northern island of Hokkaido.
- Local officials in the town of Rausu have no choice but to wait for the ice to break up and for the orcas to escape.
- Drone footage shows the trapped killer whales struggling in the icy water, raising concerns for their wellbeing.
Additional Coverage:
- More than 10 killer whales appear to be trapped by sea ice in Japan (abcnews.go.com)
A report from Japanese public broadcaster NHK on Tuesday stated that a pod of 10 orcas appears to be trapped in drift sea ice on Japan’s main northern island of Hokkaido. The local officials from the town of Rausu in the eastern part of the island have stated that they have no choice but to wait for the ice to naturally break up. It is uncertain what will happen to the killer whales in the meantime.
An official from Rausu expressed to NHK that they have no other option but to wait for the ice to break up and for the orcas to escape. The trapped orcas were initially spotted by a local fisherman on Tuesday morning, who alerted the Japan Coast Guard officials.
Wildlife Pro LLC shared drone footage on Facebook, filmed by Seiichiro Tsuchiya, which shows the trapped killer whales struggling in the icy water. Tsuchiya described seeing about 13 orcas with their heads sticking out of a hole in the ice, including three or four calves. He noticed that they appeared to be struggling to breathe.
According to NHK, a similar incident occurred in Rausu in 2005 where nine orcas died after being trapped in drift ice. In the same year, the Shiretoko Peninsula, located off the coast of Rausu, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its abundant wildlife.
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- More than 10 killer whales appear to be trapped by sea ice in Japan (abcnews.go.com)