Penguin: 1. Killer whale: 0.
Matt Karsten, 40, and his wife, Anna, 32, captured horrific footage of a gentoo penguin escaping the jaws of several hungry Antarctic killer whales.
Karstens were watching whales aboard a boat in the Gerlache Strait near the tip of Antarctica when they saw a penguin hurrying by the ship – followed by a pod of killer whales right in the back.
For a few stinging minutes, tourists watched as the penguin struggled to swim on some of the ocean’s fiercest predators, which are known to feed on flightless birds, as well as fish, seals and even sharks.
But just when the anxious passengers were sure the penguin was ready, he jumped out of the water into the boat and eventually helped on board in a successful escape from the killer whale – and a once in a lifetime experience for travelers.
“It was crazy to see him in person. It was like watching a National Geographic episode on the spot, “Karsten, a Yucatan-based tourism writer, told Kennedy News Agency. “I imagine the penguin was very easy to escape.”
Travelers from Antarctica were touring the icebergs when they first noticed the killer whale strawberry “playing in the water next to us,” which Karsten began filming.
“They swam to the room and greeted,” he added. But their interest in his room quickly ceased when they began to chase the gentoo penguin.
“They went back and forth with the penguin swimming fast with the killer whales in its wake. Eventually, the poor penguin tried to jump into a nearby zodiac boat, “he said, referring to the boat.
The penguin’s second attempt to land in the boat was a success, although the whales were hard pressed to give up immediately.
“Orcs have been following the zodiac for a while,” Karsten said. “After a short cruise, the penguin said goodbye to the boat and jumped back into the icy water,” he told Kennedy News.