Rare dolphin sighting delights West Vancouver onlookers
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It was just another routine stroll for Imaan Jiwa, who often visits the West Vancouver seawall to relax after a busy workday.
"It's kind of like my place of peace," the Vancouver resident told CBC News.
But on Friday, as she rested on a bench near Ambleside Beach, something extraordinary caught her eye.
"I was about to get up and leave...but then I saw this huge pod of dolphins zip past," the 26-year-old said.
As the dolphins glided through the waters of Burrard Inlet, more than two dozen onlookers gathered, recalled Jiwa, mesmerized by the "rare" sight.
"I've seen many seals and otters on the seawall ... but never dolphins," she said.
The excitement didn't end there.
After the first wave of dolphins passed by, a second group arrived — this time, more playful and energetic.
"These ones were more rambunctious ... they were just like jumping all over," Jiwa said, noting there were about 30 dolphins in total.
She captured the moment on her phone, sharing the video online, which quickly gained attention. Many other videos from onlookers have also surfaced on social media.
WATCH | B.C. man recounts the moment he was followed by a pod of dolphins along B.C.'s Howe Sound:
#TheMoment a B.C. man rode the waves with dozens of dolphins
2 days ago
Duration 1:25
This sighting comes just days after a dolphin pod was spotted cruising through B.C.'s Howe Sound earlier in the week. A video of Jerry McArthur on his electric surfboard went viral after capturing the moment a group of dolphins joined him for the ride.
Andrew Trites, who oversees the Marine Mammal Research Unit at UBC's Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, said the pod seen in Burrard Inlet is likely part of that same group.
"They may have split up into smaller groups compared to what was seen in Howe Sound," Trites explained.
He confirmed the animals caught on camera are Pacific white-sided dolphins — an acrobatic species known for their playful behaviour.
According to Trites, it's unusual to see these dolphins so close to shore because they tend to stay out in the open ocean. Their appearance in Burrard Inlet is likely related to the herring run, which likely drew the dolphins to the area in search of food.
This is the time of the year that herring begin to congregate to spawn, he said.
"It's one of the best food sources for white-sided dolphins because they're very high in fat."
Although the close proximity to shore provides an abundant food source, Trites said it also puts the dolphins at risk from predators. He pointed out the dolphins in the video could be seen "moving very fast."
"What would they want to escape from? That would be predation from the transient killer whales," he said.
"It's a trade-off: do you live close to the grocery store but risk getting run over, or do you live farther away and have to travel great distances for food?"
The animals largely disappeared from B.C.'s coast in the early 2000s, according to the Pacific Whale Watch Association, but have started reappearing over the past decade in pods of up to 200 — though elsewhere, they have been known to swim in schools of thousands.
Trites said there may be more sightings in the coming weeks as the dolphins take advantage of the herring spawn season.
"I would say to anybody that's out walking the shorelines, keep your eyes open, lift them up out of your phones."
For Jiwa, the encounter was a reminder of the incredible wildlife that can be found right on Vancouver's doorstep.
"It's things like that that make you realize how lucky you are," she said.
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