Wednesday March 12, 2025
Recordnet —
A federally endangered species of killer whale was spotted in the Central Coast this week, exciting whale watching crews and spurring hope for its survival.
Drone footage captured the moment a group of Southern Resident Killer Whales breached the waters of the Monterey Bay as they frolicked and searched for food.
“I never get tired of seeing these amazing animals,” said Nancy Black, a marine biologist and owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Black was on their whale watching vessel, the Sea Wolf, when they got the call from the people at the Monterey Bay Aquarium who first spotted them.
“Our crew knew right away that these were not the type of killer whales that we see most often,” Black said. The crew recognized the very straight dorsal fins, rounded dorsal tips and unique eye patches of the Southern Resident whales. They saw between 20 to 25 whales.