Wave Hunting: Orcas Prey on Seal | Antarctica | Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

For nearly 2 hours, under sunny, calm conditions the guests and crew aboard the National Geographic Explorer watched in awe as a pod of 4 Type-B orcas a.k.a. killer whales use a coordinated wave hunting technique, to displace a crab eater seal from an ice floe. {SPOILER ALERT} But the seal survived 35 separate attempts and made his getaway! Watch the drama unfold.
National Geographic Explorer in Grandidier Channel, Antarctica. Video by Bradford McArthur.
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[@wino0000006]

That seal and 4 orcas were paid for that show.

[@HotSabta]

LOL

[@kyngpapi]

😂😂😂😂

[@PatataChip_Alt]

Especially that matriarch leader

[@s1mtl2mm98]

That seal defines determination.

[@gh87716]

@@abhignavijjapurapu209 Except they were training their calf.

[@derekbonin4996]

@@abhignavijjapurapu209 no this was a lesson not a hunger situation, these orcas could have killed anytime they wanted to, especially when the seal was swimming away

[@derekbonin4996]

@@gh87716 exactly, nice observation

[@horse-lover68]

@@derekbonin4996 👍👍👍

[@tarotanaka5106]

Imagine being that seal. Clinging onto dear life.

[@Bnizzofashizzo]

taro tanaka as people cheer on orca

[@mubarkqardas46]

If I was that seal I wouldn't have been out by myself.

[@sploofmcsterra4786]

With a crowd of people hooting and laughing

[@tenderbrick]

@@sploofmcsterra4786 yeah im kind of disgusted. No need to be screaming and shouting. Let life happen. It feels like the hunger games. Typical seppos

[@flowertowerrr]

HODL!!!

[@vonwaldauer5619]

I knew orcas extraordinarily smart but I’m impressed with that seal’s escape tactics.

[@tr_g]

They let him as it was a training for the younger orca to make a wave.

[@chillboiremade5714]

@@tr_g I guess it was also a training to crack ice from under?

[@tr_g]

@@chillboiremade5714 Good point! Those drones and underwater cameras shoots paint the whole picture ... so we understand mighty orcas better.

[@mechengineer4894]

The pod was teaching an orca calf the art of the hunt. They were allowing the seal to get back on the ice. @1:46 you can see the calf making the run with the pod, in another run the calf is just swimming randomly. The greater feat of intelligence here is not the coordinated attack, but the schooling of the student orca. The objective was not the seal but educating the juvenile orca. In the final run, the calf failed to join and the pod let the seal escape as a lesson to it.

[@malcolmthompson597]

@veryslyfox Considering how intelligent orcas are, that explanation is plausible. Why is it necessary for you to mock?

[@gwynnus]

@@malcolmthompson597 because people feel very brave behind a screen

[@tr_g]

@veryslyfox Have a closer look and see the aftermath - seal is alive!

[@tr_g]

@veryslyfox They always make formation 1+ice/prey+3. But not this time. There was no one at the front to bite the seal. Only 3 and the youngest one at the back pushing water. Wave training day for the youngest orca.

[@DPT1070]

Agree… wolves of the sea in training

[@SamSam-jn2rw]

Ugh I would have hated being on this boat can’t people just enjoy wildlife without all the yelling

[@francessweeney2308]

If you looked closely, there was at least 1 juvenile amongst the pod. This was not a hunt but the pod training that juvenile how to wave hunt.

[@onestate7734]

Creating a wave in ocean requires immense strength, wow.

[@robbiepethicksrightear3352]

Sounds like a theme park was nearby

[@rominn2184]

The sound of the cheering hollering crowd is the most irritating thing ever. If the orcas gave the ice floe a good knock directly from below, it would send the seal flying up into the air and flop, into the water. Lunchtime.

[@keithmadden9260]

That seal needs to spread those strong genes

[@despilato9695]

Hoomans destroying the serenity of the Antarctic with all that yelling

[@inkedseahear]

The serenity of the Antarctice: A pod of killer whales (possibly) toying with a seal for practice

[@Tengri30]

Orcas: *Doing super intelligent Orca stuff* People: *Cheering like it's a game of football*

[@jonbon4047]

Imagine one day you're just sitting at the park, chilling at a bench when suddenly a family of 7 monstrous polar bears comes and you take refuge on top of the playground. And at the same time a GARGANTUAN flying saucer flies up and you see its shutters slowly roll down to reveal the faces of hundreds of aliens watching you. The polar bears begin to ram into the playground that you've climbed to the roof of one of the structures using their massive 2 ton bodies each to weaken it. And then you hears cheering from the aliens and see multiple flashes of lights from cameras; they're taking pictures of the whole thing! The polar bears are coming in for another ram, 14 tons in all and bulldoze the playground right from underneath you as they ram through it. You take the chance to run the other way, escaping into the suburbs where they lose your trail.

[@z140140]

yeah, it exactly describes my feelings at this memorable day. fucking humans!!!

[@bf2098]

Isn't this what happen everyday in Florida? Tell me something I don't know

[@نال-ظ7ذ]

@@z140140 ة اح5

[@bratwurst19]

😂

[@tr_g]

This was a practice for the smallest orca. First time to make the wave. Four of them were making the wave but Mother moved her position of "to catch the prey" from the front to the back and swam down. And they let seal live. This formation is always done as Mother at the front( to catch the seal), pray in the middle and 3 making the wave to kill.

[@finntastiq1524]

The seal didn't escape because it's skillful, but because the orcas were teaching the juvenile that failures mean no catch.

[@DJ-tt7tq]

Of course,seals kill too but Orcas are excellent hunters. Really intelligent too.

[@azhivago2296]

However interesting Orca hunting methods may be, a terrified and suffering animal is not something to whoop and cheer at.

[@akmalas4628]

Ah welp it humanity lmao I when a kid i put firework insine frog's stomach And the organs land on my friend face which really hilarious

[@finalfrontier001]

@@akmalas4628 can we do the same to you?

[@lordspoice5192]

we watch people beat each other up for fun. watching animals do the same isn't that far of a stretch tbh

[@azhivago2296]

@@lordspoice5192 people used to enjoy the regular spectacle of publicly castrating and ripping the bodies of state dissidents apart, but happily we've since experienced moral progress. Nonetheless, enjoying the modern spectacle of watching consenting and paid professional athletes protected by human rights law compete with one another in a cage obviously bears more moral weight than getting off on a suffering and nonconsenting animal running a gauntlet for its life.

[@ryanwalker3509]

@@finalfrontier001 we do the same thing. We literally kill babies. Take your fake moral superiority and shove it.

[@whereisthelambsauce1378]

This seal has a 30% of living with that closer shattered ices just beside hi.

[@1q2w3e4r5t6zism]

Don't underestimate seals, they are very fast and have ferocious weapons to injure the face/eyes of an orca. It is not so simple as it looks.

[@miguelsalinas5287]

That woman says the seal getting away was good news for everyone, I say the orcas not having their delicious meal is terrible news for everyone :(

[@VuMinhThuFPLHN]

They just trained their calf

[@velikigospar]

orcas hearing all these humans cheering for the seal: We thought we were friends.

[@billystpaul8907]

These people are the same ones that go up to wild animals in the National Parks to see how cute they are. I wish they would just leave the animals alone anf just let them be.

[@MrFoodAndDrink]

This is amazing footage

[@EquineMetalhead]

This is an incredible scene. I feel bad that the orcas couldn’t have their lunch but I’m glad that the seal got away. 😂

[@CharlotteWeb100]

How many people were on that boat? Sounds like parents with toddlers watching a crap firework display.

[@frlusilcdc4254]

So all of you were there to ser the seal die, I don't understand why the orcas Dindn't take your boat, it had much more food for them

[@lukewilliams7075]

Are we not allowed to think that an animal's hunting is beautiful and impressive? If you take issue with the what animals need do to survive than don't click on a video which shows exactly that. Also you say that the orcas should have gone after the people, but even though you just exaggerating, you are contradicting yourself by saying it is horrible people can enjoy watching this and then you yourself are encouraging the idea that they should have killed a boat load of people.

[@katieholt4356]

That is one smart seal. I wonder how old it is to know to stay on ice then flee to bigger ice floes and escape then the orcas have their backs turned.

[@alexanderapollo2177]

No it's really called instant😂

[@uvynelantiquina8198]

It is not yet a time for the seal to become a lunch of the hungry Whales? Hahaha

[@RyanChenMusic]

Sounds like watching wii bowling

[@stuka80]

am i the only one thats always rooting for the predator to catch the prey?

[@stevezisk3415]

It's Nature. Everything has to eat and Drink Water

[@ChristinaMagma]

Amazing video from a birds eye point of view

[@gropsch]

the sadistic excitement of the spectators is filthy🤮

[@DeclanGilmartin]

That clip is from a BBC documentary narrated by David Attenborough and it did not involve people cheering in the background. This has been gratuitously added by person or persons unknown

[@anewbeginning9150]

Let's be real, if those orcas really intended to kill that seal, they would have already.. The seal escaped BECAUSE the orcas weren't intentional, and not because it outsmarted them..

[@Burnthesof]

Ozzyman

[@tylergranger2159]

Type B "Pack Ice" Orcas.

[@bkjeong4302]

Akak the only orcas that actually know this trick (even though omg this occasion the seal got away)

[@crossfuentes9738]

I like how everyone’s cheering for the death of the seal

[@josephastier7421]

Never give up, never surrender.

[@Jessebella1]

Does anyone know which program or where the clip is that during beach hunting seals, the whales release the last one back to the beach to keep the population of seals healthy? David Attenborough narrated this I believe as it happened, but I cannot find that particular clip anywhere anymore nor remember what program I saw it on, but I remember seeing it

[@kwmmorris1363]

Original Blue Planet Series of 4 DVDs, maybe 2002?

[@scarlettroger1508]

It wasn’t “good news” for the Orcas who wanted Kevin for their lunch

[@ernietv5809]

Amazing wow beautiful video

[@tenderbrick]

Kyogre to Groudons little rock in the sea

[@paoloblasetti9284]

It's kinda creepy that people are laughing while some killer whales are trying to eat a seal. It's almost the same thing that happened in the Colosseum, people laughing hand having fun while other people or animals were killing each other. Of course this time is nature, but I think that would be more respectful to just watch in silence. In my opinion the experience would be even more engaging

[@tileguy918]

By that logic humans shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy hunting game. This time it IS nature and the screaming and cheering wouldn’t change a thing. This is nature, dominance is set by your place in the food chain, dominance is set by your intelligence, dominance is set by your pure power. They were cheering for the orcas because if the orcas wanted that seal dead, it would be dead. Orcas are some of the closest animals to us in terms of intelligence. To the orcas this is a game, to the seal this is survival, the orcas have no worries at that moment, it’s no different to cheering on the winning football team, but this time the stakes are higher. Just because we’re human means that we can’t enjoy this sight? The orcas enjoyed it, why can’t we. If it was a human hunting the seal it would be different, but we as a species have found a way to rise past the ages of hunting. But somewhere in that lizard brain of yours is the instinctive enjoyment of murdering prey. This is what the orcas felt, this is what our ancestors felt. The act of spectating this triggers that part of the brain. That is why they were cheering, because hunting is an instinctive activity for humans. Is it bad that those people were cheering? No, because it is not bad for the orca to hunt.

[@ryanwalker3509]

@@tileguy918 it's just virtue signaling bs. I bet he still eats meat. He's just trying to pretend he's morally superior to others.

[@severalgmails6544]

opinions are opinions after all :)

[@afrillyandwi7771]

It's nature. There's nothing human can do about it. Seal is a prey.

[@username8191]

@@tileguy918 Nice edgelord .I bet you're a raid boss on reddit .

[@andreasampley4411]

I found the Ohs and Ahs of the crowd cruel. I get the whales need to eat. It is a spectacular display. But couldn't they have just enjoyed nature with the respect it deserves? Nature is not a spectacle to entertain us.

[@onetuffspartan1981]

Andrea Sampley they were cheering for it to surviveXD that’s what I saw....however I’ll be honest I love killer whales so damn much I may have been ooing

[@PAULLONDEN]

"cheering for it to survive" ....bet they would've shed some tears had the Orcas had their lunch...

[@DaGamingLife]

Are you not entertained?

[@tylerharris1163]

Lol, woman up lil baby.

[@Hyraladen]

Andrea Sampley Nature is not disturbed by people expressing emotions of excitement... Shut up and go watch a documentary where the narrator only speaks... We are part of nature and we're naturally always expressing emotions...

[@felipegomes403]

Thank god Kavin 🙏

[@thwonkk]

That poor sea pupper

[@JeffreyMaldonado-ke6kh]

The most disturbing thing is that the people enjoy seeing that, see how the bulnerable seal is attacked by the orcas like was a show I was thinking of how about put those people doing that sound with the mouth put them in the ice with the orcas around them broken the ice to have a nice dinner with them!! How about that?

[@AllLife1354]

Can’t wait to see the whales learn to just jump on top of the ice..if they learn that there’s no hope for the seals but to run back into the ocean

[@delta_5266]

1:05 wow that's fire🔥

[@PAULLONDEN]

Pathetic how all these clowns were screaming ,like they were at the circus....... Some of the human species are truly despicable.....

[@johnchristian8685]

Orcas need to eat, its fcking natural

[@ianmeade7441]

Actually there's another video that describes why they're cheering. The boat was a research expedition sent specificially to investigate whether or not this behavior was real. Prior to the expedition it was a maritime legend, and no footage existed.

[@nataliehultgren1922]

Seriously. Shut up and watch mother nature. It was so annoying to listen to.

[@adibfarhan7956]

Blablablabla

[@kevinowen7388]

Incredible adorable cute whales of all these Orcas and my other favorite Polar Bears from the Antarctica 🥰

[@kovokarota6282]

This video proves the incredible intelligence of the Orcas and the stupidity of humans screaming like idiots. I wish I was an Orca and not Human !

[@meshalalmutairi8409]

very clean water

[@mlungisimngadi6171]

Sad truth.. Kevin's body was found 2km away without any intestine😫😑💀

[@CG_CAKE]

They where playing with him . If they want it to it him the would have.

[@fdyjt]

hahaha i love to see that they are my favorite animals

[@rubiconklbrutorowman7577]

For me it was real-bad-Orca did not get their much need around 1,000 pound of meat! Dam, 1-Orca should have waited to cut off escape route like leopards, if they are two pair, but usually lions do that!

[@mattarmstrong3299]

This would be phenomenal to see...could do without all the cheering though...?

[@bigtooth5963]

Are these large type b Antarctic orcas

[@tylergranger2159]

Yep.

[@adibfarhan7956]

Yes

[@deceio]

What is the seal doing there by himself in the first place 🤔

[@ttv_cxllum6520]

people who came from the video where the seal ate the penguin 🐧 ~> Ik it’s apart of nature

[@giselediniz]

Tchau escrava

[@horse-lover68]

What is so funny about a seal fighting for his life?? I do not understand these people clapping and screaming. Yes orca's eat seal's, but I don't want to see them killing a marine mammal. I respect and love orva's, buf they are brutal!!

[@evilcartman32]

Man I really wanted them to get the seal

[@sabrinagreen4304]

WTF???? What about the Orcas! 5 Ocras Hungry and starving vs on dead seal

[@daile6030]

Is this the seal they called Kevin in the other video?

[@TheOverThinker92]

Am I the only one who was actually supporting Orcas?

[@truonghao8313]

Cả hai loài đều rất giỏi

[@robertmorris8997]

And the poor Killer whales go hungry.

[@tillik1004]

So gross for these people to act like this seal's desperate life and death struggle as "entertainment".

[@AangAVT156]

Very intelegent 😇

[@lbabytutorials4852]

I noticed most these orcas have orange on there skin than white

[@NoImpres.]

Way to go Kevin

[@Instumental]

How big can this waves be?

[@frinkin]

2:24 is that Homelander?

[@ahmedaalmaryme942]

These are crazy, why do they laugh and clap the whales? I hope they will be the prey so that they know the meaning of life and pain

[@timjones147]

The Seal isn’t poor and he isn’t innocent. What do seals eat poor innocent fish

[@megafaunaforever]

wow

[@DeadlyProductionXxX]

Sad that the seal escaped. Better luck next time, big bros!

[@co94]

People are wayyyyyy too easily offended. If this were a vid of a tarantula hawk versus a tarantula, no one would care. It’s a cute seal though so thats different. Getting this close to nature and witnessing an apex predator showcasing intelligence-that’s “shameful” because people are gasping in awe on the boat?

[@jake9565270]

Poor thing, but Apex gonna eat

[@ThatHippyDuck]

Wtf is with the laughing and cheering?? Lol

[@Kymcook73]

Why do you allow the guests to yell and scream?

[@jettiecurrie6175]

S house it is Caleb make a class of 2017-2018

[@luisdelagarza3350]

Annoys me the people constant exclamations like this was a circus. It was a hunting, not a fun to watch experience.

[@adeliaforsteri3683]

Same. I hope those cheering were not from those actual tourists. If it was from the actual tourists, i hope people start making rules that forbid it bcs it's annoying af, especially the high pitch ones . It ruins the atmosphere

[@tylerspunucious7420]

Maybe we could leave the audio out of the video next time, put some music, narration and wave noises over it. The OOOOHS ruin this.

[@tomscott3]

one lucky seal!

[@huhuruz77]

Lucky ? you should ask those Orcas what happened with the seal, then come back here to tell me...😂

[@baranerdem5573]

ain't no luck, he had the skill to 1v4 against his biggest enemys

[@isomarulor]

The voice of people cheering is very disturbing

[@contentwriting2152]

Great 👍🏻 we proved the we are human fools... Sometimes I feels who is the real animal... Really think again.

[@brendaolimires]

the sound of humans annoyed me deeply. it felt so invasive and wrong

[@leiflindamood4309]

YEEEAAAH FUCK YEAH KEEEVIIIN

[@covagotnext8337]

Sheeesh

[@giselediniz]

Tchau escrava renta loprete e priscila Bonfim a mesma pessoa

[@giselediniz]

Sua técnica de ser escrava desde o theatro municipal até hoje

[@stevezisk3415]

The Hippies Complaining

[@mattarmstrong3299]

The WHOLE video is a cheering crowd? Yuck. Those expeditions are not cheap but I'll pay extra without the crowd

[@charlottewebster4233]

One of the rarest sights to witness and privileged group of people making noises like they're watching a shit firework display

[@jonathonlilbourne9264]

Clearly there are no vegans on that ship

[@nakeemjames2225]

Systematically...? Lol really dude

[@Lorenzo-be1nm]

Deeply upsetting and concerning to hear the people viewing this cheering and celebrating, taking sides... these are two species fighting for their lives, the Orcas need to eat, the seal needs to defend its own life.... and the humans on the boat allow themselves to see all that as an amusement. Terrible actually.

[@samuelhain2712]

WWE crowd watching

[@tinachen5894]

很不喜歡這樣的活動，海豹在作生命掙扎，人類確在一旁歡呼。

[@uhjuuhughu]

I don’t like people cheering about the hunting.