HUMPBACK WHALES PUT ON SPECTACULAR BUBBLE-NET FEEDING SHOW
WITH PIX AND VID
By Shuk Yee Tsang
A wildlife photographer captured the extraordinary sight of humpback whales hunting together in a rarely seen feeding display.
Sean Weekly, from Bristol, UK, filmed the moment in Alaska after spending 12 hours searching for whales on his second day there.
The coordinated behaviour, known as bubble-net feeding, involves the whales diving beneath schools of fish, releasing spirals of bubbles to trap them, and then surging upward with mouths wide open.
Sean described the encounter as one of the most organised and spectacular hunting techniques in the animal kingdom.
Sean said: “Bubble net feeding is basically the whales’ version of an all-you-can-eat buffet raid only way more organized.
"They dive below a school of fish, blow a ring of bubbles to corral their prey, and then launch themselves up through the middle with mouths wide open.
" It’s cooperative hunting at its most spectacular, and it’s unique to humpbacks.
"What an unbelievable and overwhelming experience."
One viewer commented: “Makes you feel so privileged to see them.”
Another said: “Awesome Sean, would love to see them bubble feeding. Great video as always.”
ENDS
