Orca pulls whale hunting boat under water

Local authorities in the eastern Indonesian district of Lembata have reported the loss of a whale hunting boat which appears to have been dragged under water by a harpooned orca. The vessel had 12 hunters on board at the time. Four made it to shore shortly afterwards but eight others reportedly swam for 16 hours in order to reach safety.

Whale hunters on the island of Lembata usually hunt sperm whales, but the animals have become scarce in recent years. Orcas are known to be difficult to catch and so not usually hunted in the region.