Science

Onlookers Capture Rare Glimpse of Killer Whales Off Southern California Coast

Posted on July 24, 2012 at 11:50am by Liz Klimas
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Killer whales are considered a rare sight as far south as San Diego, but according to locals it seems their prevalence in the area is on the rise. Several different reports have shown tourists’ accounts of recent orca sightings.

The owner of Adventure Rib Rides, Kenny Manzoni, says he thinks a food source is what has brought the whales into the area, NBC San Diego reports:

“We are seeing a calf–very playful even with dolphins which is unique for orcas and of course, the mom is nearby,” said [...] Manzoni.

Killer whales in San Diego’s territory are not something people see every day, said Manzoni. And the reason they’re in local waters is the increase of nutrition.

“There has been an increase in pinnipeds in the area and that’s their favorite food source,” he said.

NBC reported Katie and Jack Montou, a Las Vegas couple, saying the whales swam near the boat they were touring on for 20 to 30 minutes.

“It was amazing,” Katie said, according to NBC. “It’s different seeing them in the wild.”

Watch the report:

Another tourist boat in the area, the Ocean Odyssey, has reported similar encounters. U-T San Diego News reports Judy Lawrence, a volunteer for San Diego Natural History Museum, saying ”I never thought I would see an orca without going up to Puget Sound and we all were very excited.” See photos taken by Lawrence of the tour here.

NOAA Marine Biologist Jay Barlow said that the ocra sightings were “very unusual” and events that he usually hears of only five to 10 years.

Only a few miles north in La Jolla, tourists exalted at seeing an orca on their trip. Watch the footage posted by CNN and described as “Free Willy” moment:

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Comments (12)

golfputter1
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 1:41pm
I just returned from an awesome 8 day fishing trip to the south western portion of the pacific of Baja and while fishing for Blue Fin, we were dogged by three young Orca’s along with another fishing boat for at least a half hour where we were able to take many pictures of the three. In all my years deep sea fishing on charter boats I have never seen Orca’s. One time while on the East side of Baja near Bahia De Los Angeles, we were dogged in our panga by a real young Orca pup who swam under the boat and circled us several times. It was quite awesome to see. When you see them that close, they almost look like they are fake. It is really quite extraordinary.
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battles
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 1:07pm
“We are seeing a calf–very playful even with dolphins which is unique for orcas…”. I would be careful if I were these dolphins. When their playful orca calf grows up a little, its play will be to eat them.
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6thdegreeblack
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 12:21pm
We love you Orcas!
Dear Killer Whales: As a Southern California offshore fisherman I encourage you to tell all of your Orca buddies about the bounty of pinnipeds (seals and such) in our waters as our politicians in their omnipotent wisdom and wonderful insight have made even the slight harassment of these nuisance beast the highest of felonies. There are also huge amounts of giant squid that have invaded from the south that- like to hang around the deeper areas of structure and- are depleting the tasty rockfish that my wife loves so much, so while you are here please enjoy all of the fresh calamari you can eat. (yum)
Therefore bon appétit my Odontoceti friends, and if you see any illegal aliens swimming north feel free to harvest them as well..
LOL

DEEP BOW (eyes up)
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- ChiefGeorge
  Posted on July 24, 2012 at 12:53pm
  This should make surfers even more nervous!
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- 4xeverything
  Posted on July 24, 2012 at 1:33pm
  With the increase in Great White sharks (also due to the increase in seals) who do you have your money on, the sharks, the orcas, or the surfers? My money’s on the sharks. ;0) Duh-duh duh-duh (done to the Jaws theme).
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- DagneyT
  Posted on July 24, 2012 at 1:41pm
  Oh my goodness! Hey, Liberals, guess what is on the coast in this vicinity? Gulp!!! Yes, a nuclear power plant! [San Onofrio, if memory serves me]
  
  Didn‘t all y’all tell us that would kill all the sea life? How come they’re thriving? Flourishing?
  
  DUH!
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- shandog
  Posted on July 24, 2012 at 4:11pm
  4Xeverything: Great whites will lose to the Orcas as they have been taught to turn the sharks over by slamming them in the sides. One rolled over the shark goes into a trance and the Orcas eat their livers. When the shark dies it emits a hormone that scares all other sharks out of the territory.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8GaDuCvYbE Mythbusters did a study on the Great White hormone and proved when one dies others flee.
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- shandog
  Posted on July 24, 2012 at 4:18pm
  Here;s another great video proving my point! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9I_DcSbZjI
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teddrunk
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 12:12pm
I’d rather watch the west coast break off and slide under the Pacific.
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 12:04pm
An incredible sight.
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historyguy48
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 12:03pm
Comrades they are such beautiful animals. I saw them in the wild when I was in Alaska, truly beautiful and very dangerous, especially if you are a seal! (Not a SEAL, a seal!)
Undoubtedly they have come further south because food is plentiful because of the vast increase in the pinniped population.
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BeingThere
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 11:59am
I’ve always wanted to be a whaler!!!!!
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