DFO seeks satellite imagery to trace tracks of trapped narwhals

A federal researcher says he hopes some satellite imagery of the area around Pond Inlet, Nunavut, will help them figure out how more than 500 narwhals became trapped in sea ice near the Baffin Island community.

As of Friday afternoon, hunters have culled 511 narwhals trapped in the ice near Bylot Island, about 17 kilometres from Pond Inlet. The number surpasses previous estimates — 500 whales — by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
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Speaking to CBC News from Pond Inlet, local elder Gamailie Kilukishak said he does not remember seeing so many narwhals trapped at the same time.

Speaking in Inuktitut, Kilukishak said he suspects that multi-year ice has closed off Navy Board Inlet, which runs along the western side of Bylot Island.

The narwhals may have then turned around to head out toward Baffin Bay, only to find the ice had already formed on the east side of the island, he added.

Richard said he believes the whales got trapped in fast-freezing ice as they tried to reach open water.