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A Rare Orca Pod Is On The Move In SoCal
An orca whale with the Eastern Tropical Pacific Pod pops out of the ocean water in Del Mar. Their visit in San Diego marks a rare trip north for the marine mammal.
(
Delaney Trowbridge
)
Topline:
A rare pod of orca whales appear to be headed south after spending a week in the waters off of Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Whale watchers in Southern California have been trying to spot the Eastern Tropical Pacific pod since they arrived in early December.
(
Delaney Trowbridge
)
Trips to California are rare for the Eastern Tropical Pacific Pod of orca whales since they usually stick to waters off the coast of Mexico. But over the past week, they've been spotted from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Newport Beach.
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On Monday, Newport Coastal Adventure tour group spotted them in Del Mar. These recent sightings are rare in Los Angeles in Orange counties.
Harbor Breeze Cruises in Long Beach last saw the orca whales two years ago. Assistant port captain Tyler Askari said he thinks dolphin-hunting brought them further north.
"They came right up to the boat. They were hunting down dolphins, and even killed quite a few right in front of the boat so it was a sight to see," he said.
Askari said the pod, including two calves, was spotted in Newport Beach on Sunday and are likely headed back down to Mexico.
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