Australian captures stunning photographs of pod of orcas attacking seal

The audacity of that seal.

Australian Allison Bone captured a harrowing encounter between a pod of orcas and a solitary seal stranded on sea ice near Antarctica.

For almost two hours the killer whales worked as a team, making repeated runs towards the seal to generate a wave powerful enough to knock it off the ice and into the water.

It is a common and effective hunting method but this seal refused to become a tasty morsel for the marauding orcas.

Twice it slipped into the ocean but found a different piece of ice to cling to.

The seal even faced down one of the orcas when it came in for a closer look.

Ms Bone, who lives in Chicago, confirmed the seal eventually escaped to safety.

“Afternoon activities suspended to witness this nearly two-hour battle for life between a seal and four orcas,” Ms Bone said.

“The seal managed to hang on through every charge — and gave the orcas plenty of cheek in the process.

“The result — against all odds — seal one, orcas zero.”