"Drucker used the zoom lens on her camera to spot a harbor seal that was trying to flee from the pod. One of her shots showed the seal flying through the air above the scrum of orcas frothing the water, and she assumed she was witnessing the seal's last moments alive. But as the orcas got closer to the boat, Drucker and her group realized the pod was still chasing the seal."
"In line with wildlife boating regulations, they had cut the engine to prevent any injury to the whales. The seal clambered out of the water and on to a swimming platform at the stern of the boat near the motor claiming it as a life raft of sorts. Wildlife regulations also prohibit touching or interfering with the seal, but Drucker began filming video. You poor thing, Drucker can be heard saying, as the seal looks up at her. You're good, just stay, buddy."
"The orcas did not give up immediately, but instead appeared to team up to rock the boat and make the seal fall off. Drucker's cellphone video shows the orcas lining up and moving in on the boat with staggered dives to create waves. The wave-washing technique has been documented by scientists since at least the 1980s, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The seal on Drucker's boat slid off at least once, but managed to climb back on."
Charvet Drucker filmed a pod of at least eight killer whales near her island home in the Salish Sea northwest of Seattle. The orcas displayed coordinated movements and tail slaps consistent with hunting. A harbor seal fled toward Drucker's rented 20ft boat and leapt above a scrum of frothing orcas before climbing onto a swimming platform at the stern. The vessel's engine was cut to comply with wildlife boating rules, and no one touched the seal. The orcas used staggered dives to create waves to rock the boat; the seal slid off at least once but climbed back on and the orcas left after about 15 minutes.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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