Shades of 'Big Miracle'? Pod of killer whales trapped in ice of Hudson Bay, Quebec

Arriving at the airport in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik. Sue Frause photo.

So sad to hear about the pod of killer whales trapped in the ice of Hudson Bay, a few miles out of Inukjuak in Nunavik, Quebec. I was in Nunavik in July 2009 on a Cruise North Arctic Odyssey tour. Although we didn't make a stop in Inukjuak, located on the west coast of Nunavik, we visited the communities of Kuujjuaq, Kangiqsujuaq and Ivujivik. As Quebec's Arctic region, Nunavik is a pristine territory located north of the 55th parallel.

But back to the trapped orca. According to CBC.ca, "more than a dozen killer whales are stranded at a breathing hole in the ice near Inukjuak, Que." There's also an article on Digital Journal and a video of the trapped killer whales on YouTube.  

This story is all too familiar, and harkens back to the Drew Barrymore film Big Miracle (2012). Let's hope this real life drama unfolding in Nunavik has an equally happy ending as the Hollywood version. 

• UPDATE #1 The Vancouver Sun (1/9/2013 | 4:40 PM PST)
• UPDATE #2 CT Post (1/10/2013 | 7:16 AM PST)
• UPDATE #3 The Globe and Mail (1/10/2013 | 7:23 PM PST)