One Shot
Witnessing a once in a lifetime battle between two of Antarctica's most tenacious survivors
For more than a decade, wildlife cinematographer Jamie McPherson has been filming killer whales in Antarctica, including the unique 'Type B' group, known for their ingenious 'wave washing' hunting strategy. Over this time, Jamie has witnessed, first hand, the changes that the Antarctic environment is undergoing in the face of climate change.
Jamie came to the Our Oceans team with a new story, never told before. He explained to us how under usual circumstances, the killer whales use the wave washing hunting strategy on Weddell seals, the orca’s preferred prey: fatter, slower and easier to catch than other seal species. But as sea ice dwindles, these killer whales are forced to target more agile and dangerous prey that bite back… crabeater seals! Jamie believed this would be an extraordinary story to show to the world, but he knew it would not be easy. With Jamie’s unrivaled experience and unparalleled enthusiasm for the potential of this ambitious story, we were in! So Jamie, alongside Producer Abraham Joffe, Field Producers Louis Cooper-Robinson and Alex Warham, drone camera operator Connor Gallagher and underwater camera operator Nuno Sa, sailed South. They could never have expected to capture what they did - when a hunt played out for over four hours in front of them and they witnessed the orca use every wave washing strategy we know of, in one grueling attempt to capture a feisty crabeater.
​“What we encountered which was extraordinary was because of the lack of sea ice, because there were so few seals around to hunt, they (the orca) were going after the crab eater. They decided it was worth it. They were desperate."
- Abraham Joffe, Southern episode Producer.
Jamie claims this was the best wildlife encounter that he has ever witnessed, but he is also confronted with the sobering reality. Only around 100 Type B killer whales remain in Antarctica, and many areas there are suffering from continued loss of sea ice - 2023, the year they filmed, saw record lows of ice cover.
​
He reflects that the days of seeing such an incredible battle between the unique Type B killer whales and tenacious seals may be short lived…
“it might not be something people get to see in the future.”
- Jamie McPherson, Camera Op
“I've seen it first hand, the change down there from 10 years ago, to going last season, there's just no sea ice left... It's the most graphic, clear cut impact of climate change that I've seen anywhere in the world.”
- Jamie McPherson, Camera Op
IMPACT FILM: on thin ice, LAST SEAL STANDING
6 MINS 12 SECONDS
Cinematographer Jamie McPherson recounts the most remarkable wildlife encounter of his career, a deeply personal experience a decade in the making. As sea ice in western Antarctica recedes, he contemplates the uncertain future of the extraordinary wildlife he has spent his career documenting.