Nature always has something incredible to throw at us when we least expect it. In fact, it’s in those wild moments that we remember we are just a small part of a system that has been going on for a VERY long time, and most of it without us!
One of the oldest relationships in nature is the “prey/predator.”
Going back as far as life exists, there has always been one creature trying to eat the other. Even cells show this behavior! While we often view this as cruel, it is part of the system and allows things to thrive.
Despite it being “natural,” that doesn’t stop us from wanting to cheer for the little guy!
A funny thing about humans is that we are the apex predator across the entire planet. There isn’t a single creature that can take on our species as a whole. Knowing that it’s amusing how we always seem to cheer for the “little guy” in the story when we, in fact, are the big guys!
A recent story shows us that sometimes, the little guy does win, even if it’s by a narrow margin and a bit of luck.
Only a few weeks ago, a couple was on a whale-watching expedition right off the tip of Antarctica. There were researchers and hobbyists, all gathered in rafts to see one of the ocean’s most magnificent creatures in their natural habitat – killer whales.
Incredibly, they were able to track down a pod and watch them in person!
Finding killer whales in a vast ocean isn’t always easy, but the hard work paid off this time for the expectant watchers. The watchers, however, were about to get a lot more than they bargained for.
As they watched the pod of whales, they soon realized that the orcas were in the middle of a hunt.
The sleek black bodies were following a tiny figure hopping in and out of the water – it was a little penguin! The entire pod of orcas was in pursuit of the little fellow, and they were in open water.
A penguin in open water doesn’t stand a chance against a pod of killer whales.
The watchers looked on in sadness as they realized what was about to happen. It was the natural way of things, and they couldn’t do much about it. Nevertheless, they still wanted the little guy to make it through.
Suddenly, the penguin switched directions!
Instead of going towards the shore, the little guy made a hopping beeline towards the boats – he was going to try and leap into the whale watchers rafts! After a few attempts and subsequent bounces, the penguin finally cleared the edge and made it safely into the raft.
The orcas were clearly displeased, but the humans couldn’t have been happier.
They had gotten an up-close and personal show of what happens out in the wild on a daily basis! The story had a great ending this time around, too! After a few minutes to make sure the orca was gone, the penguin hopped back into the water like nothing was wrong.
Check out the wild escape in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
