The West Coast is prime whale watching territory, and the Pacific Northwest in particular is a great place to see action unlike anywhere else on Earth. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of more than just the usual splashdown and watch ocean mammals hunt for their next meal, providing some unforgettable views in the process.
A naturalist with Blue Kingdom Whale and Wildlife Tours in Anacortes, Washington, captured a stunning moment during a feeding frenzy on Sept. 12. The female humpback whale ate a zillion fish when a harbor seal wrapped around her mouth, capturing the wild moment on camera.
“Friday the 13thpearlis generally considered an unlucky day. Also unlucky? This harbor seal was caught [Zillion]The seal was seen feeding on bait fish in the Strait of Juan de Fuca yesterday when it mouthed something, the Pacific Whale Watching Association wrote in a Facebook post. “Luckily, the seal had some luck because Zillion quickly spotted the uninvited dinner guest and released the seal accordingly.”
The Blue Kingdom noted that this incredible encounter fortunately lived on forever thanks to photographs.
“We're still in awe of this unique wildlife encounter from Thursday's tour,” the Facebook post read. “Naturalist Brooke captured the moment this incredibly surprised harbor seal found himself in the jaws of humpback Zillion! Thankfully the little guy survived to tell the tale!”
Killer whales are known to prey on sea lions, while humpback whales feed on small fish, so it was unlikely that Zillion would be his meal. Still, it's probably safe to say that the seal was happy to get away.