Previous Next ArchiveSearch Archive
: Tourists: Orcas and Seals, Oh My!
Jun 1, 2006

Tourism in Antarctica is a growing industry. Commercial tourism there actually started back in 1957. Some science groups are concerned that it could have a bad effect on the continent. Fortunately it is expensive enough, especially for extended trips that it keeps the tourism down. Most tourists just visit the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands by ship, some going on shore for day trips. Although more adventurers are now taking an interest in wanting to travel there for SCUBA diving, sky diving, climbing, surfing and ski walking.

As far as orcas and seals, sometimes they play, sometimes the orcas play with their food that is. Here’s an amazing video of orcas teaching their young a hunting technique. Don’t worry, it’s only practice and the seal goes unharmed.


[link]

This video on the other hand is not for the faint of heart or seal lovers as it demonstrates some of the cruelty of nature. If you’re an orca lover though, this comes with the package. Much like leopard seals with penguins, the orcas thrash young seals about, but on top of that they also do body slams, short passes, and 50 yard field goals. If you have ever wanted to see how far an orca can literally punt a baby seal, then this video is for you.

WARNING: Graphic content. Excessive seal punting.


[link]

32 Comments

  1. RW says:

    Ha ha ha, love the last panelis gold! Nice dentchers falling out. I hpe the seal has a fun time playing with the orca,he he. 😀

  2. RW says:

    Wow, I just watched the videos and they are pretty bad, well the first one was cool, but the second one… But you did put a disclaimer on it so I can’t sue you, but anyway, vary impressive punting and passing by the orcas and I think the only one who was having a fun time on that play date was the orca. and I can quit relate to the look on the old guys face.

    Well anyways, vary eye opening. 😯

  3. A.G. Hopkins says:

    What an extraordinary and awesome shift in technique and detail in that last panel, and so appropriate for the impact you wanted to bring.
    I’ve seen your similar work in some other guest comics you’ve done, but this really works well in this strip for the contrast.

    While I’m here, thought I’d share a link with you.

    http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0601-03.htm

    This talks about Exxon-Mobil and the 40 odd organizations dedicated to denying global warming, among other things.

    Keep up the good work, Tyler!
    Thanks!

  4. ~*Ashley*~ says:

    lol, that cracks me up! great comic! 😀

  5. CL says:

    AWW poor seals. great comic though lol i loved it 😀

  6. Edi says:

    You Tube links do not seem to be working…Maybe it’s just me.

  7. kyler says:

    :'( poor seals

  8. The second one is the saddest thing I have ever seen. Did they have to put the swelling music in there? I THINK I HAVE SOMETHING IN MY EYE.

  9. Bill says:

    Where are Wally and Osbourne?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

  10. AJ says:

    I may be the only one who feels this way, but I really hate this new drawing style you’ve been incorporating into your strips recently (the last panel). It takes so much away from the elegance of the rest of the strip.

  11. Jhon says:

    well, the first times you draw our heroes like this fourth panel I didn’t like it but I’m getting used to it and now I find it usefull (same thing that A.G. Hopkins said).

    for the videos.. well, that’s nature.. I just don’t get why the “killers” threw their victim that way..
    (sorry for my bad quality english too ^^)

  12. Aaron says:

    ditto on the hating of the new style
    love the comic tons though

  13. David says:

    I’m not sure if the second video has its source listed, but I wanted to share it in case anyone else was interested. It’s from the series “Trials of Life”, and is the episode entitled “Hunting and Escaping”.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trials_of_Life

  14. izchan says:

    I would not use the world cruel on animal behaviour … its more like basic instints?

  15. ErosLane says:

    “Excessive seal punting.”

    Pepsi One shot out my nose.

    You win this round Tyler…. :P~

  16. bobo says:

    Wen I read “Excessive seal punting” i just thought of a guy kicking a seal like in football, but oh man that was horrible, i don’t mean it wasn’t good but, *shivers* i understand that they have to eat but *shivers again* but now that i think about it you tried to make it more funny and less sad, and on a happier note those tourists look like my grandparents but they went to Alaska not Antarctica, oh and this is the only comic without wally and Osbourne. (besides travel ads and intermission)

  17. Whalehugger says:

    These particular orcas are transients and they are completely different than the whales the tourists in the strip are looking for. Transients hunt in silence so their communications with each other don’t alert their prey, and they tend to stay away from the coast lines. The orcas generally seen on the west coast are fish eaters, particularly salmon.

    Great strip and very true. People get a little upset when they see nature at work.

  18. ~*Ashley*~ says:

    okay, that second video was very sad, poor seals. 🙁 but i guess its a way of life. great comic though!

  19. someone says:

    *checks watch*

    Time for a new comic Tyler

  20. kyler says:

    i think that the killer whales are mean!!!

  21. Mentalbug says:

    I just “OMG’ed” when i saw that killer wave throw that dead seal up in the sky…. how high was that?? It was almost as if the whale was trying to knock the bird down with a seal….

    Those videos are impressive, and damn those whales are sadistic…

    “Hee hee I think it wants to play with the seal”… Comic is priceless 😛 (ouch.. I just noticed her… “teeth” going away :P)

  22. TKO says:

    Excellent video footage. Very educational. (I think I might have seen the second one before.) A bit sad, but yeah, that’s wildlife for ya. Just remember, those tail-flipping bits at the end, the pup was dead by then. Maybe it genuinely tastes better after that? I dunno.

    And I *like* the drawing style of the last panel. Don’t you think it added to the effect? The first panels were soft cuddly cartoon “life through rose-tinted glasses” panels .. the last one was real life, with the dirt, the rust, the shocking reality. Keep up the good work dude!

  23. Thomas says:

    HA HA! A blow for the penguins! Die Evil penguin-eating seal, I hope to orka chokes on you!:shock: The bad part is that the killer whale is getting food, which makes it live. WAIT that means that it’s NOT hungery for penguins!:p

  24. bob says:

    i hop the killer whale chocks!:D 😯 :b

  25. axis says:

    what, am i supposed to be sad?

  26. Penguin Boy says:

    Seeing the seals die in the second video was sad :*-(.

  27. Metroplex says:

    ~no comment available~

  28. poolfreak says:

    metroplex said something!!!!!! 😮 ❗

  29. Metroplex says:

    😡 😆 ❗

  30. ukelele says:

    nice touch with dentures falling out
    😮 😯 😕

Leave a response