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A pod of killer whales surprised people on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast by swimming close to shore and rubbing their bellies against rocks.
Ryan Chilibeck lives in Gibsons, across Howe Sound from West Vancouver, and on Jan. 2 heard that killer whales were swimming near Secret Beach Park.
He rushed out the door to try to catch a glimpse of them.
“Luckily, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and got an amazing show,” Chilibeck said.
A group of people formed on the beach and silently watched as a pod of killer whales swam back and forth a few feet offshore for 20 minutes.
“I picked my jaw up off the ground, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Chilibeck said.
According to Jared Towers, executive director of Bay Cetology, the group of whales was identified as Northern Resident Killer Whales (NRKW) and pod A5, which includes three different families.
“Of all the orca populations around the world, only a couple have observed this behavior,” Towers said.
“It’s a very specialized, very unique phenomenon, it’s not that common.”
The pebbles on the beach should be suitable for use by northern resident killer whales, and the A5 pod is known to favor those found on the Sunshine Coast.
“They are the only ones who know these places and use them,” Towers said.
Rubbing the belly against smooth rocks is pleasant for whales and may promote exfoliation.
“Orcas have very active skin, so their skin is constantly peeling off, they rub their bodies against rocks like smooth pebbles, and this can help them speed up that peeling,” Towers said.
Community Unites Over Whale Sightings
Chilibec wouldn't have known about whales if it weren't for a local Facebook group that shares whale sightings.
“I’m probably the number one orca fan in the world, so it’s obviously very important to me,” Chilibeck said.
He was mesmerized by the way marine mammals moved through the water.
“How big they were when they swam… I think that was one of the things I'll take away the most,” Chilibeck said.
Glenda Sewards runs a Facebook group hoping to share her observations for everyone to enjoy.
“Then everyone in the community will have the opportunity to see these magnificent creatures,” Sewards said.
She started the group more than 10 years ago after spotting whales on her back deck in Langdale.
“It's really not that [much] work, it's more joyful than anything else to see the community love it and be so excited about it,” Sewards said.
