Seal's Daring Escape from Orcas Captured by Photographer

During a whale observing journey off the coast of Seattle, a wildlife photographer recorded compelling footage and images of a seal's narrow escape from a group of pursuing killer whales.

Charvet Drucker was out enjoying a voyage aboard a 20-foot vessel she had rented, navigating the Salish Sea not far from her island home. An unexpected encounter awaited her, as she noticed a cluster of at least eight orcas, known for their strategic hunting prowess.

Observing the synchronized movements and vigorous splashes of the orcas, Drucker soon realized a pursuit was underway. Through her camera’s lens, she spotted a harbor seal desperately trying to escape. Capturing a shot, she witnessed the seal airborne amidst the chaos of the churning waters and initially assumed it was the creature's final act.

Surprisingly, when the orcas closed in on the boat, it became evident that the chase was still in progress. In the spirit of observing marine safety guidelines, the boat's passengers shut off the engine to safeguard the whales, while the seal found a refuge on a rear platform of the craft near its engine, using it as an impromptu sanctuary.

Without making physical contact, as stipulated by wildlife regulations, Drucker began filming the ordeal. The seal appeared solemn and cautious, to which Drucker sympathetically responded, encouraging the seal to remain on board.

The determined whales did not recede effortlessly. Instead, they engaged in an orchestrated effort to topple the boat and dislodge the seal. Drucker’s phone captured footage of the killer whales performing a calculated dance of dives to produce destabilizing waves—an observed method known as 'wave-washing.'

On one occasion, the seal slipped back into the water but managed to climb aboard once more. After about a quarter-hour of attempts, the orcas retreated as the seal's tenacity outlasted theirs.

With the predators dissipated, Drucker cautiously navigated the boat towards the shore, ensuring a safer environment for the seal. Feeling secured once more, the seal finally opted to splash back into its aquatic realm of its own volition.

Though Drucker is often an advocate for orcas due to her regular experiences witnessing them hunt seals, in this encounter, she found herself rooting for the seal's survival.

The encounter involved transient killer whales, known as Bigg’s orcas. These animals are adept at preying on a wide range of marine wildlife, unlike the endangered 'resident' orcas that have a more singular focus on salmon.

Orcas frequently hunt seals, but their diet also includes a variety of other marine creatures. In differing scenarios, these apex predators have been documented engaging in inventive methods to capture and consume their prey.