Large Pod of Killer Whales Spotted in Rare Sighting in San Francisco; Orcas Were Probably Celebrating Successful Hunting

Killer whales are social animals and usually swim together. However, seeing a large pod of killer whales in San Francisco is uncommon, but that was the case last month.

Large Pod of Killer Whales in San Francisco

A bizarre large group of killer whales, about 20 orcas, was spotted by a whale-watching tour off the coast of San Francisco last month. The big reunion was probably a celebration of the successful hunting of sea lions or seals, Phys.org reported.

Michael Pierson, an Oceanic Society naturalist leading the tour, said he screamed "orca" when he noticed it. He immediately saw them due to their distinct dorsal fins visible on the water's surface. He said in an interview that the sighting was "special."

On May 7, many whales were spotted near the Farallon Islands, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) west of San Francisco. According to Nancy Black, a marine biologist, and Monterey Bay Whale Watch proprietor, killer whales are most frequently seen around the deep ocean canyon beneath Monterey Bay, about 75 miles south of the city. They can be seen anywhere from the coastline to just 5 miles offshore.

Because the canyon is so close to the beach, it is simpler for whale-watching trips to see them in Monterey Bay as opposed to the Farallon Islands, which require a lengthy boat voyage from San Francisco and where the water may not be deep enough to observe whales, according to Black.

They are the whales that most whale watchers hope to see, but you never know when they will be around, according to Black.

Although Black, the director of the nonprofit California Killer Whale Project, claimed to have spotted more orcas than the two dozen that were sighted last month, she stressed that every sighting is noteworthy. She was speaking when five orcas were seen swimming together in Monterey Bay.

The spring migration season coincides with the Oceanic Society's regular visits to the Farallon Islands, which include data collection for researchers and environmentalists. On May 7, Pierson and the boat's skipper, Jared Davis, decided to take a different path to travel through deeper water.

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Why Are Large Pods of Orcas Not Common?

The orcas are typically seen in family groups of three to six whales while on excursions to the Farallon Islands. Typically, they extend from Alaska to Canada and Baja California up the West Coast.

The tour ran into 20 to 24 family groups gathered together last month, which was numerous. The killer whales had presumably just finished their meal. Therefore they were probably close to the islands because that is where pregnant sea lions and seals give birth at this time of year.

Pierson said they were not sure why the pod was large. He added that the adult males were huge with their distinctive 6-foot (2-meter) dorsal fins. The sighting was reportedly a showstopper, and everyone on board couldn't help but gasp at how pleased they were. They could hear coos and awws from the passengers.

Although large pods of killer whales aren't often seen, sighting is not entirely impossible. Killer whales are extremely social animals and tend to swim in groups. According to the National Wildlife Federation, a single pod usually comprises multiple families living together.