Orcas Trapped in Ice Near Japan Successfully Escape

A pod of killer whales, initially trapped by sea ice off Hokkaido, Japan, has apparently escaped to safety, officials report.

A pod of around a dozen killer whales was trapped by sea ice off Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.
Officials and environmental groups monitored the situation, with public concern prompting calls for government assistance.
Drone footage showed the orcas, including calves, struggling to breathe in a small gap in the ice.
The whales managed to escape safely, likely through gaps in the ice, as confirmed by local officials.
The incident highlighted the changing nature of Hokkaido's drift ice, with similar events occurring in the past.