Growing concern is being expressed for the well-being of a group of killer whales that seem to be trapped in drift ice near Hokkaido in northern Japan.
NHK, the public broadcaster, aired footage on Tuesday showing at least 10 orcas emerging from a small opening in the water, approximately 1 km off the coast of Rausu on the Shiretoko peninsula. This area is a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site known for its diverse wildlife.
The orca, also known as the killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. It belongs to the genus Orcinus and is the only existing species within this genus. Orcas can be identified by their distinct black-and-white body pattern.
The local town authorities reported that the thick ice has hindered any attempts by the coast guard to rescue the whales, despite being alerted by a fisherman.
An official from Rausu said that they have no option but to wait for the ice to break up and for the animals to find their way out. A marine life expert named Seiichiro Tsuchiya, who was using a drone to research the sea lion population in the area, captured footage of the stranded orcas.
A pod of about 10 killer whales has been found trapped in a small gap in drift ice off the coast of Rausu, a town in northeastern Hokkaido. According to NHK, "the town can only watch and hope that the drift ice breaks apart, allowing the orcas to escape." pic.twitter.com/AKLnGvgU2O
— Jeffrey J. Hall 🇯🇵🇺🇸 (@mrjeffu) February 6, 2024
Killer whales typically remain submerged for only a few minutes at a time, but larger cetaceans can spend extended periods underwater.
The sea surrounding eastern Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of Japan, experiences an annual occurrence of drift ice during winter. However, due to the climate crisis and the subsequent rise in sea temperatures, the quantity of ice has been decreasing in recent years.
This week, officials noted that the lack of wind resulted in minimal movement of the ice sheets. It is not uncommon for killer whales to face challenges in this area.
In 2005, several of these marine mammals lost their lives after becoming trapped in sea ice near Rausu, a popular location for whale-watching during the summer.