Overview

• 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.