For a brief moment in February, the world collectively held its breath upon discovering the plight of an orca pod trapped in sea ice. The frantic scene unfolded near the town of Rausu, off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture.
According to Japanese media organization NHK, a local fisherman first contacted the town’s Coast Guard station on the morning of Feb. 6, 2024 to report an orca stuck between sheets of ice. Footage from later that afternoon revealed more orcas — about a dozen — trapped in the ice.
It seemed that nothing could be done to save them, as it was impossible to send any help through the ice-laden water without the risk of further restricting the orcas. The only hope was to wait for the ice to break up.
