The whale watching excursion off the coast of Orange County received an up-and-coming visit from a pair of friendly and “very curious” minced whales.
The encounter was Tuesday morning a few miles from the Newport Beach coastline between the Whale and Davey’s locker whale watching tour.
A video shared with KTLA shows that normally shy, plane sea mammals approaching a packed boat, turning several times and surfaced several feet away.
On the Newport Beach Watching Tour we met two friendly minke whales. (Cecilia Mangram/Davy’s Rocker Watching) The Newport Beach Watching Tour met two friendly minke whales. (Cecilia Mangram/Davy’s Rocker Watching) The Newport Beach Watching Tour met two friendly minke whales. (Cecilia Mangram/Davy’s Rocker Watching) The Newport Beach Watching Tour met two friendly minke whales. (Cecilia Mangram/Davy’s Rocker Whale Watching)
Such encounters are extremely rare, according to Jessica Rodriguez, Education & Communications Manager at Davey’s Locker Whale Watching.
“Typically shy and quick, minke whales are often known as the Pacific ‘phantom’ because of their short surface times and fast movements,” Rodriguez said. “This encounter was a heartwarming reminder of the deep connections that can occur between humans and marine life as we take the time to observe, respect and protect the marine environment.”
Among the passengers covered in the rare display of interspecific diplomacy was a group of students from the local Monte Vista Elementary School.
For more information about such tours, click here.
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