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Killer whales escape as Canada's Hudson Bay ice shifts | Killer whales escape as Canada's Hudson Bay ice shifts |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A dozen killer whales trapped under sea ice with only a single breathing hole have reached safety in Canada's Hudson Bay, local villagers have reported. | A dozen killer whales trapped under sea ice with only a single breathing hole have reached safety in Canada's Hudson Bay, local villagers have reported. |
The winds shifted overnight, pushing floating ice away from the coast and opening the water, Inukjuak village leader Tommy Palliser said. | The winds shifted overnight, pushing floating ice away from the coast and opening the water, Inukjuak village leader Tommy Palliser said. |
The whales had been jockeying for space to breathe through a gap in the ice. | The whales had been jockeying for space to breathe through a gap in the ice. |
They were spotted by a hunter on Tuesday, the day after residents say the bay froze. | They were spotted by a hunter on Tuesday, the day after residents say the bay froze. |
Since then, two hunters reported the water had opened around the area where the whales were seen surfacing for air, Mr Palliser said. | Since then, two hunters reported the water had opened around the area where the whales were seen surfacing for air, Mr Palliser said. |
"They confirmed that the whales were no longer there and there was a lot of open water," the Inukjuak leader said. | "They confirmed that the whales were no longer there and there was a lot of open water," the Inukjuak leader said. |
"That's good news for the whales," he added. | "That's good news for the whales," he added. |
But some experts warn that although the whales may have moved away from the waters around Inukjuak, they could still be in danger. | |
Marine researcher Lyne Morissette said the whales would still have to travel more than 100km (62 miles) to reach the open waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean. | |
She added that it would be a significant loss for the local whale population if the pod did not make it, CBC News reported. | |
Many villagers made the one-hour snowmobile ride on Tuesday to see the whales. | Many villagers made the one-hour snowmobile ride on Tuesday to see the whales. |
The Inukjuak public safety officer told CTV on Wednesday the whales should not even be in the area in January. | The Inukjuak public safety officer told CTV on Wednesday the whales should not even be in the area in January. |
On Wednesday, the village asked the Canadian government to send icebreaker ships to help free the whales. | On Wednesday, the village asked the Canadian government to send icebreaker ships to help free the whales. |
But Inukjuak Mayor Peter Inukpuk said the ships were too far away to help. | But Inukjuak Mayor Peter Inukpuk said the ships were too far away to help. |
Villagers had said they would launch their own rescue operation with chainsaw and drills. | Villagers had said they would launch their own rescue operation with chainsaw and drills. |
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