[09/07/23 - 09:00 AM] National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory Films Remarkable Whale Behavior Off the Coast of Antarctica All episodes of the Disney+ Original series from National Geographic "Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory" will stream on Disney+ on September 13.
[via press release from Disney+]
*MEDIA ALERT*
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER BERTIE GREGORY FILMS REMARKABLE WHALE BEHAVIOR OFF THE COAST OF ANTARCTICA
The Award-Winning Cinematographer Captured Humpback Whales
Interrupting Type B1 Killer Whales Hunting a Weddell Seal
This Breathtaking, Rare Moment Is for
ANIMALS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY,
Streaming on Disney+ on Sept. 13
WHO / WHAT: While on expedition off the icy coast of Antarctica to film the very rare type B1 killer whales - it's estimated there are only 100 alive today - National Geographic Explorer and BAFTA Award-winning cinematographer Bertie Gregory (@BertieGregory) filmed two humpback whales interfering as B1 orcas hunted their favorite prey: the Weddell seal, which can weigh up to 1200 pounds. The whales swam over to the site of the attack to disrupt the killer whales from capturing the seal, though they ultimately failed to save its life.
This fascinating moment revealed a phenomenon where one species of marine animal appears to be trying to protect another. Scientists believe that because killer whales occasionally take humpback whale calves for food, this drives the adult humpbacks to try to stop any killer whale hunt they come across. This extraordinary interaction between B1 killer whales and humpback whales can be seen in the "Antarctic Killer Waves" episode of the new natural history series ANIMALS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY. Learn more about this breaking news at NatGeo.com.
WHEN: January 2022 in Antarctica.
WHERE: Bertie and his team sailed for seven days on a 1000-mile boat journey across one of the roughest stretches of ocean on Earth, the Drake Passage, from South America and south along the Antarctic peninsula. Once there, they ventured further to the Gullet - a beautiful, difficult-to-navigate narrow channel that led them to an impassable ice sheet deep in Antarctica. As winter turns to spring, chunks of ice break off from these ice sheets and drift down the Gullet, enabling Weddell seals to use them as a place to rest between feeds.
WHY: To film the B1s employing sophisticated hunting tactics such as wave washing, where they work together to create a huge wave that forces a seal off the ice sheet and into the water. Type B orcas are the only species to do this. Orcas are highly intelligent predators. They also swim under ice floes in fast formation, causing enough force to shatter the ice and further strand their prey, which is what Bertie was witnessing when the humpbacks interrupted.
HOW: To capture this rarely filmed behavior, Bertie utilized state-of-the-art drones from the air, and the team used a gyro-stabilized camera to capture steady shots of the action from the boat.
MANDATORY MENTIONS: All episodes of the Disney+ Original series from National Geographic ANIMALS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY will stream on Disney+ on Sept. 13.
[05/14/26 - 10:01 AM] Kelsey Plum Joins WNBA on Prime as Player Contributor Throughout the season, Plum will join the WNBA on Prime studio team to help highlight key storylines around the league, provide on-court insight and authentic analysis.
[05/14/26 - 09:31 AM] Video: "Outlast: The Jungle" - Official Trailer - Netflix In this ultimate survival game, the contestants must outlast not only the jungle and its elements but also the psychological and social challenges posed by their fellow competitors.
[05/14/26 - 09:11 AM] Date Announcement: Hulu's "Never Change!" In 2008 the graduating class of North Meadows High School had their senior year cut short due to a disastrous tornado. Now in their mid 30's they're being forced to return home and finish high school once and for all.