GLOBAL – A stunning display of instinct and intelligence unfolded in the Salish Sea, approximately 65 kilometres northwest of Seattle, United States, when a harbour seal made a desperate leap for survival onto a photographer’s boat to escape a coordinated attack by a pod of at least eight killer whales. The event, which occurred on Thursday, 13 November 2025, was documented in dramatic video and photographs by wildlife photographer Charvet Drucker, offering a powerful glimpse into the life-and-death struggles within marine ecosystems.

Drucker was on a 6-metre rented boat when she observed the pod exhibiting classic hunting behaviour, including coordinated movements and tail slaps. The target was a lone harbour seal. As the chase intensified and moved closer to her vessel, Drucker and her companions cut the engine, adhering to regional wildlife boating regulations designed to protect marine animals from harm. It was at this moment that the seal, in a final bid for safety, scrambled out of the water and onto the boat's stern swimming platform.

A Calculated Response: The 'Wave-Washing' Technique

The ordeal was far from over. Rather than abandoning the hunt, the orcas demonstrated a remarkable and calculated strategy known as “wave-washing.” Drucker’s video shows the whales lining up and diving in staggered formation to create significant waves aimed at rocking the boat and dislodging the seal. This complex, cooperative hunting technique has been documented by scientists, including the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), since at least the 1980s and is most famously observed among orcas in the Antarctic hunting seals resting on ice floes. The application of this tactic in the Salish Sea highlights the adaptability and intelligence of these apex predators.

The specific killer whales involved are known as Bigg's killer whales, or “transient” orcas. Unlike the endangered “resident” orcas of the same region that primarily feed on salmon, Bigg's killer whales prey on marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and porpoises. Their population is considered healthier due to a more diverse and abundant food source. The hunt, while appearing brutal, is a fundamental aspect of the ecosystem's health.

Human Presence and Wildlife Regulations

The incident underscores the critical importance of regulations governing human interaction with marine wildlife. Boating guidelines in the Salish Sea, enforced by agencies like NOAA, mandate that vessels maintain significant distances from killer whales—up to 200 yards for Bigg's killer whales in Washington's inland waters—and prohibit the touching or interference with any marine mammal. By cutting their engine, Drucker’s group complied with these rules, which are intended to minimize disturbance and prevent injury to the animals. The seal's decision to use the boat as a refuge was entirely its own, an unforeseen consequence of the boat's passive presence.

The tense standoff continued for approximately 15 to 30 minutes. The seal slipped off the platform at least once but managed to climb back aboard before the orca pod eventually moved on. For Drucker, the experience was a profound conflict between her admiration for the hunters and her empathy for the hunted. “I'm definitely Team Orca, all day, every day. But once that seal was on the boat, I kind of turned (into) Team Seal,” she told The Associated Press on Thursday, 13 November 2025.

While this event has no direct connection to East Africa's marine environment, it serves as a compelling case study in predator-prey dynamics, animal intelligence, and the impact of human activity on natural wildlife behaviours. It highlights a universal principle of conservation: the need for respectful, non-interventionist observation of wildlife, allowing the unvarnished dramas of the natural world to play out. The footage provides invaluable data for marine biologists studying the cultural transmission of complex hunting strategies within orca populations.