Pod of orcas are spotted hunting dolphins close to swimmers and surfers off the California coast
- The orcas were spotted hunting and mauling a dolphin off the coast of San Diego’s La Jolla
- Footage from that moment shows the orcas emerging from the end of a pier, throwing a dolphin out of the water and attacking the mammal
- You then see the group swimming away to deeper waters, while a man swims quickly parallel to the orcas
Surfers and swimmers in California witnessed a rare event up close when a pod of killer whales chased a dolphin near shore and tore it apart.
Footage from that moment shows a group of surfboarders watching orcas leap through the water off the coast of La Jolla in San Diego.
While floating quietly on their boards in the water, you see the orcas emerge from the end of a pier and throw a dolphin out of the water.
The pod then attacks and tears the mammal apart as it sinks into the water.
Today’s footage shows a group of surfboarders watching killer whales leap through the water off the coast of San Diego’s La Jolla
As they float quietly on their boards in the water, watch the orcas emerge from the end of a pier and throw a dolphin out of the water
The pod then attacks and tears the mammal apart as it sinks into the water
During this time you hear a man say, “Oh my god, they’re literally eating the dolphin.”
A few seconds later you see the group swimming away into deeper waters, while a man swims quickly parallel to the orcas.
Two other people are also seen in the water watching the capsule swim by.
This comes a month after a group of killer whales appeared in California for the first time in two years.
During this time you hear a man say, ‘Oh my god, they’re literally eating the dolphin.
A few seconds later you see the group swimming away into deeper waters, while a man swims quickly parallel to the orcas.
The eastern tropical Pacific pod of nearly a dozen killer whales, including two calves, had been spotted on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
The Palos Verdes Peninsula is a subregion of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Harbor Breeze Cruises spotted the black and white orcas on their maiden voyage around noon Monday and posted photos of the group on their Facebook page.
The group was sighted again by Harbor Breeze around 3 p.m., but this time the whales were busy hunting dolphins.
‘These are mammal-eating orcas and yesterday they were actively hunting dolphins. They ended up killing two dolphins,” said Jessica Rodriguez of Newport Coastal Adventures, another whale watching charter where the orcas were spotted.
Of the three species of killer whales, it is estimated that almost 200 transient killer whales live off the coast of California and prefer to hunt marine mammals
The Eastern Tropical Pacific pod containing nearly a dozen killer whales, including two calves, was spotted on the Palos Verdes Peninsula
Harbor Breeze Cruises spotted the black and white orcas around noon on Monday and posted photos of the fate on their Facebook page
In a video from one of the whale watchers, which they called a ‘once in a lifetime experience’, we see the animal jumping in and out of the water.
According to the Orange County RegisterThis pod of killer whales typically spends time outside Mexico and rarely travels to Southern California.
Orcas usually travel in groups of up to 40 individuals. Each pod makes a specific clicking sound, making it easy for members to recognize each other.
Of the three species of killer whales, nearly 200 Transient Killer Whales are estimated to live off the coast of California and prefer to hunt marine mammals.
Orcas are also one of the most unpredictable marine mammals; they occur sporadically, which makes their recent appearances even more special.