An age old mating ritual that is rarely glimpsed by humans, plays out in the most desolate reaches of the arctic-circle, as Narwhals on the hunt for a mate, joust with their stunning tusks above the icy water.
Male narwhals, which weigh up to 3,500 pounds, are known for the long conspicuous sword-like tusk that can measure up to 3 meters (10 feet) long. (Females have tusks also jetting from their jaw, but they are shorter.)
While populations appear stable, the narwhal has been deemed particularly vulnerable to climate change due to a narrow geographical range and specialized diet.
SEE THE PHOTOS of this astonishing swordplay spectacle in Brainz.org..