The Lucky Seal

[Stephen Whiteside]

The Lucky Seal

In 2009, a scientist in Antarctica observed a humpback whale rescue a Weddell seal from attack by orcas (killer whales).

The orcas thundered, side by side, to generate a wave
To tip a hunk of ice, and send a seal to its grave –
A grave inside their bellies. It would slide into the sea,
And they would tear it limb from limb, and chew it hungrily!

At first, all went according to the plans that they had laid.
The seal splashed into the water, helpless and dismayed,
But just before the orcas sent their prey to Kingdom Come,
A humpback whale arrived, and raised the seal on its tum!

Danger still lurked near – wild and raucous was the sea,
And the belly of a humpback whale is very slippery.
The seal started sliding off. The whale moved its fin
To hold the seal safely, so it didn’t fall back in.

In time a larger, higher, safer iceberg came their way.
The seal scrambled quickly, and made good its getaway.
The orcas – angry, hungry, and defeated in their quest –
Moved on, intent on shaking off their large, unwelcome guest.

How lucky was the little seal, cornered by its foe,
Cowered, helpless, terrified, with no place left to go,
That a giant friend should turn up in its hour of greatest need,
That from its ghastly fate as orca food it should be freed!

© Stephen Whiteside 04.08.2016

Further information can be found here:
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animal ... mals-orcas

[David Campbell]

Thanks, Stephen...quite amazing! Considering the number of reports, it almost seems like there's vigilante squad of humpbacks.

Cheers
David

[Stephen Whiteside]

Yes, but why only humpbacks? So many questions...

[Shelley Hansen]

Oh wow, Stephen - what a fabulous story! I hadn't heard these reports (probably not a scenario we come across much in Queensland!!)

Reminds me of that wonderful advice we humans do well to consider: "Always be kind to others, even when they cannot repay you."

You've made my day!

Cheers
Shelley

[Stephen Whiteside]

Thanks, Shelley.

We don't seem to get many orcas in Australian waters. They are ubiquitous, and we do get a few. Of course, you have plenty of humpbacks in Queensland.

There used to be a population around Eden in southern New South Wales. They had developed a symbiotic relationship with the shore-based whaling operations in Twofold Bay. They would sound the alert when humpbacks were passing through, and would assist in the chase. Their reward was to get the lips and the tongues of the whales. The carcasses would surface several days later with the putrefaction of the gut contents, and the whalers would tow them home for flensing. With the demise of the whaling, the orcas disappeared - though the skeleton of the most famous of them, Old Tom, is on permanent display at the Eden Killer Whale Museum. (You can even see the groove in his tooth from where he used to play with the ropes!)

Orcas have discovered the phenomenon known as "tonic immobility", whereby if a shark (or ray) is turned upside down it becomes immobilised. They will charge a great white from the side, flip it upside down, hold it underwater until it drowns (lack of forward movement of water through its gills), then eat its liver. There is a large population of orcas in New Zealand waters. They mostly live off small rays. They have learnt to approach the rays upside down, and turn themselves right way up as soon as they grab the ray - which turns the ray upside down! Same deal - drown it, eat its liver. Clever!

[Shelley Hansen]

... and ruthless! Wow - I didn't know all that about orcas.

We do of course have the whale watching season here - very close to us in fact, at Hervey Bay. They are the migratory humpbacks who winter and calve in the waters of Platypus Bay off Fraser Island. This year the albino whale Migaloo has already put in his regular appearance a little further south. They say he is with a non-albino female - so there is much speculation about the possible offspring!

I'll keep you posted

Cheers
Shelley

[Stephen Whiteside]

Yes, albinos hold an endless fascination, don't they. I've never quite understood that.

There's a great video on YouTube of an orca flipping a seal up in the air with its tail. It's incredible how high it goes. They are generally in no hurry to kill their prey. A lot of this is about teaching the younger ones.

As my daughter says, "Orcas are bastards!"