Throughout many years of wildlife travel, I have witnessed several large predator hunts. In some cases, successful ones. In many not. Some with a swift end for the prey, and some with a relentless struggle over life and death for either side. What unfolded during the evening hours of 9 April, however, was natural history education: how many humans would ever have witnessed a pack of Arctic wolves hunting, killing and then fully consuming a female ringed seal (Pusa hispida) and her whitecoat - her newly born pup?

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We had decided to head out a bit later that day to preserve our energy for more attractive light towards sunset. About 40 minutes after leaving camp, our ski-doos would reach the place where we had left the pack the previous night. From there we had planned to follow the wolves' tracks. I was mentally prepared for hours of searching the rough, icy Arctic landscape. But there was no need. Three wolves lay right there, resting! Deep into Slidre Fiord, surrounded by wild snow drifts resembling a rough sea frozen in an instant. I decided to mount a camera and long lens to my tripod and get a battery ready. The animals on the ice to our north-east were still not active. Suddenly, Terry pointed to the hills north of us and advised that more wolves were running down the slopes. Surely, they would soon circle us as they had done before? Instead, we noticed them heading at full speed towards a particular spot about 400m west of us. Seconds after my "let's investigate" our snow mobile was flying over the ice towards the unfolding commotion. Me with the big rig shouldered and with Terry concentrating on not catapulting me off the machine.

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I took a moment to realise what was happening. Three pack members had surrounded the adult ringed seal preventing it from moving to its breathing hole. Within seconds, two more wolves moved in and the intense attack was launched. But something seemed odd! It came to me at once as the already injured seal made a last attempt at escaping: I was witnessing a marine mammal trying to fend off a pack of land predators on solid ground. This female will have successfully mitigated grave dangers of the Arctic ocean and the floe edge for 20 years or more. But facing what must have been a terrifying, chaotic attack on a sunny evening with her days-old pup nearby, away from any bear and out in the open was nothing the animal could have been prepared for. For the wolves this opportunity meant survival. -

 

The seal and her pup had run out of luck. Two lives were given for the pack with their own young to survive.

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The 3rd North of North gallery contains photographs displaying the dramatic events we were to observe that evening on the fiord ice, and the interaction around the seal carcass over the following days.

 

Even though some of these photographs may be difficult to view, I hope you enjoy the gallery in its context.