Audun Lie Dahl
Arctic Angels, 2019
Svalbard, Norway
Category - Polar Wonders
Belugas are known for their gregarious tendencies. In winter, they tend to hunt in groups near the ice pack, which is supposed to protect them from orcas, but which puts them at the mercy of their other main predator, the polar bear. Teamwork is therefore imperative for their survival. I have always been fascinated by these magnificent whales. This photo taken from above illustrates the coordination of this opportunistic pod hunting between the ice floes of the Hornsund fjords, in the heart of the South Spitsbergen National Park, the largest of the national parks in Svalbard and the Kingdom of Norway.