#predation behavior

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Dr. Holly Fearnbach, SR3’s Marine Mammal Research Director, just finished an extremely productive month of collaborative research on whale health around the Antarctic Peninsula. She was joined by Dr. John Durban and Trevor Joyce (NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center), Leigh Hickmott and Jessica Farrer (SR3) onboard Lindblad Expedition’s National Geographic Explorer to conduct research assessing how top predators (killer whales) and top consumers (humpback and minke whales) are impacted by the rapid warming of this marine ecosystem.

Read more here 

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A finalist for Wildlife Photographer of the Year. via Audun Rikardsen Photography:

It is a great honor to again be awarded in the Wildlife photographer of the year, the "world championship" and the “Oscar” for nature photographers! This is the forth time in five years, so humble to still be up there among all the great photographers! My picture “Night snack” became a finalist in the Underwater category.

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Offshore orcas (including mother O297) hunting salmon sharks in Seward, Alaska. Photos via  North Gulf Oceanic Society.

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Jared Towers:

Found plenty of killer whales of the B varieties on this latest excursion to the Southern Ocean and was able to collect some quality data. Thanks so much to friends and colleagues aboard the National Geographic Explorer for the excellent company and hospitality over the last few weeks. Am looking forward to next time!

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Type B orca drowning a seal. Photo by Carmen Buchmann.

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Photo by João Paulo Krajewski:

This huge male orca came towards me swimming like a torpedo. He then grabbed a herring just a few centimeters from my camera and swam right underneath me. He barely opened his mouth to gently catch the fish!

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Photo by João Paulo Krajewski:

First jump in the water in Norway! Water temperature 3ºC, air temperature -2ºC and snow. Hard work but it was worth it!

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Killer whale takes eider chick in Shetland. Photography by Richard Shucksmith.