Rare Sighting: Orcas Spotted Swimming In The City At False Creek

Vancouver is a Canadian metropolis known for its many attractions, such as museums, shopping districts, and… orcas? Ferry passengers on False Creek were recently treated to a killer whale sighting right in the middle of the city! CBC Vancouver shared some breathtaking footage from the unexpected wildlife encounter on social media. These aquatic mammals got surprisingly close to the boat!

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In the clip, four orcas could be seen swimming in the Vancouver inlet. They were easy to spot from the False Creek Ferries vessel, their black and white bodies rising above the surface of the water from time to time. A chorus of “oohs” and “aahs” could be heard in the background as passengers noticed the majestic animals.

One of the most adorable moments in this video was when a small child excitedly informed their mother how important this moment was for them.

“It’s my first time seeing one in real life, Mama!” the kid exclaimed.

If you’re wondering what these orcas were doing by downtown Vancouver, Andrew Trites might have an answer for you. The director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit at the University of British Columbia told CBC that these creatures were there to hunt seals! He believes that this not only accounts for the animals’ urban outing, but also for their quiet movements.

“They’re on the hunt, and so they don’t want to make a big splash about it,” he explained. “They want to come in very stealthy-like, as though they weren’t even there.”

Andrew also noted that this group of orcas spotted in Vancouver was a family consisting of killer whale T35A and her children. Although they’ve never been to the city before, other whales have definitely ventured into False Creek. Perhaps this mother and her kids wanted to experience the allure of the urban center for themselves!

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.