they're one of the most beautiful creature in the world.
A disabled killer whale that is missing two finds is able to survive in the wild with the help of its family, who hunt food its food.
The young killer whale has no dorsal find or right-side pectoral fin, leaving it unable to hunt for itself.
But rather than be left to fend for itself or die, the whale appears to be cared for by members of its pod, which share their food with the youngster.
Underwater photographer Rainer Schimpf came face to face with the pod while the members hunted in waters off Port Elizabeth in South Africa.
He said: ‘Incapable of fast hunting and ambushing prey it has to be dependent on the pod which, one assumes, looks after it very well.
‘It shows these mammals are not really just ruthless killing machines but they also have complex, caring social-structures in which they and care for their own disabled members.’
Mr Schimpf had been tracking the pod of seven as they hunted a Bryde’s whale - measuring 50ft (15m) in length and weighing a massive 15 tonnes.
When I’m not writing about working with (or for?) marine mammals, I’ve got a camera up to my face. Let’s just say I had a great day on the water with my GoPro and some curious wild bottlenose dolphins.
Spaceships glowing blue in the dawn as we leave Florida headed across the Atlantic.
This is tiiiight!
