Orcas make rare splash in Vancouver's downtown waters
A group of orcas created quite a stir when they were spotted in the narrow False Creek inlet in the heart of Vancouver. The family of these mammals was captured on video, which quickly made its rounds on social media.
6:53 AM EST, November 27, 2024
The orcas ventured into the waters of False Creek in downtown Vancouver, Canada. While these marine mammals typically inhabit the waters of British Columbia, sightings in this area are very uncommon.
Excitement in the Canadian city
According to experts cited by local media, the orcas may have ventured here to hunt seals.
Videos of the orcas, shared on social media, were recorded from ferries. Jack Hemsworth, the captain of one of these vessels, mentioned that passengers were astonished when the orcas' dorsal fins appeared above the water. "I’ve never been that close, even on like a whale watching tour," Hemsworth said, as quoted by the Times Colonist.
An exceptional experience
Andrew Trites, director of the University of British Columbia's Marine Mammal Research Unit, explained that the group of orcas was a family—a mother and her three children. "I’m sure there were hundreds of people walking along the seawall that day and they didn’t even notice and these people aboard the boat, they had a very special moment they will remember for the rest of their lives," said the scientist in an interview with the Times Colonist.
The orca is a marine mammal species and the largest member of the dolphin family. The oceanic orca is the most widely distributed, inhabiting almost every marine environment from the equator to the polar regions. Female orcas can reach up to 25 feet long, while males can grow as long as 32 feet. Females can weigh up to 10,000 pounds, and males can weigh as much as 14,500 pounds.
