Killer whales trapped under vast stretch of Quebec sea ice
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Two killer whales surface through a breathing hole in the ice of Hudson Bay near the community of Inukjuak, Quebec on Jan 9, 2013. The whales are part of a pod of several that are trapped in the sea ice of the Hudson Bay. The whales are taking turns breathing through a hole in the ice about the size of a pickup truck. Inukjuak's mayor has called upon the Canadian government to send an icebreaker to save them. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Three killer whales surface through a breathing hole in the ice of Hudson Bay near the community of Inukjuak, Quebec on Jan 9, 2013. The three whales are part of a pod of several that are trapped in the sea ice of the Hudson Bay. The whales are taking turns breathing through a hole in the ice about the size of a pickup truck. Inukjuak's mayor has called upon the Canadian government to send an icebreaker to save them. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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In this Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013, photo provided by Marina Lacasse, a killer whale surfaces through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, in Northern Quebec. Mayor Peter Inukpuk urged the Canadian government on Wednesday to send an icebreaker as soon as possible to crack open the ice and help the pod of about a dozen trapped orcas find open water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said it is sending officials to assess the situation. -- PHOTO: AP/THE CANADIAN PRESS, MARINA LACASSE
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In this Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013, photo provided by Marina Lacasse, a killer whale surfaces through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, in Northern Quebec. Mayor Peter Inukpuk urged the Canadian government on Wednesday to send an icebreaker as soon as possible to crack open the ice and help the pod of about a dozen trapped orcas find open water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said it is sending officials to assess the situation. -- PHOTO: AP/THE CANADIAN PRESS, MARINA LACASSE
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In this Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013, photo provided by Marina Lacasse, a killer whale surfaces through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, in Northern Quebec. Mayor Peter Inukpuk urged the Canadian government on Wednesday to send an icebreaker as soon as possible to crack open the ice and help the pod of about a dozen trapped orcas find open water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said it is sending officials to assess the situation. -- PHOTO: AP/THE CANADIAN PRESS, MARINA LACASSE
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In this Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013, photo provided by Marina Lacasse, a killer whale surfaces through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, in Northern Quebec. Mayor Peter Inukpuk urged the Canadian government on Wednesday to send an icebreaker as soon as possible to crack open the ice and help the pod of about a dozen trapped orcas find open water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said it is sending officials to assess the situation. -- PHOTO: AP/THE CANADIAN PRESS, MARINA LACASSE
Two killer whales surface through a breathing hole in the ice of Hudson Bay near the community of Inukjuak, Quebec on Jan 9, 2013. The whales are part of a pod of several that are trapped in the sea ice of the Hudson Bay. The whales are taking turns breathing through a hole in the ice about the size of a pickup truck. Inukjuak's mayor has called upon the Canadian government to send an icebreaker to save them. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Three killer whales surface through a breathing hole in the ice of Hudson Bay near the community of Inukjuak, Quebec on Jan 9, 2013. The three whales are part of a pod of several that are trapped in the sea ice of the Hudson Bay. The whales are taking turns breathing through a hole in the ice about the size of a pickup truck. Inukjuak's mayor has called upon the Canadian government to send an icebreaker to save them. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
In this Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013, photo provided by Marina Lacasse, a killer whale surfaces through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, in Northern Quebec. Mayor Peter Inukpuk urged the Canadian government on Wednesday to send an icebreaker as soon as possible to crack open the ice and help the pod of about a dozen trapped orcas find open water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said it is sending officials to assess the situation. -- PHOTO: AP/THE CANADIAN PRESS, MARINA LACASSE
In this Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013, photo provided by Marina Lacasse, a killer whale surfaces through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, in Northern Quebec. Mayor Peter Inukpuk urged the Canadian government on Wednesday to send an icebreaker as soon as possible to crack open the ice and help the pod of about a dozen trapped orcas find open water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said it is sending officials to assess the situation. -- PHOTO: AP/THE CANADIAN PRESS, MARINA LACASSE
In this Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013, photo provided by Marina Lacasse, a killer whale surfaces through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, in Northern Quebec. Mayor Peter Inukpuk urged the Canadian government on Wednesday to send an icebreaker as soon as possible to crack open the ice and help the pod of about a dozen trapped orcas find open water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said it is sending officials to assess the situation. -- PHOTO: AP/THE CANADIAN PRESS, MARINA LACASSE
In this Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013, photo provided by Marina Lacasse, a killer whale surfaces through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, in Northern Quebec. Mayor Peter Inukpuk urged the Canadian government on Wednesday to send an icebreaker as soon as possible to crack open the ice and help the pod of about a dozen trapped orcas find open water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said it is sending officials to assess the situation. -- PHOTO: AP/THE CANADIAN PRESS, MARINA LACASSE
MONTREAL (AP) - About a dozen killer whales have been trapped under a vast stretch of sea ice, and the community of Inukjuak in Quebec's Far North is calling for outside help to free them.
Locals said the mammals have gathered around a single hole in the ice - slightly bigger than a pickup truck - in a desperate bid to get oxygen.
