Rare Sight: Over 2000 Dolphins Gather Off the Coast of California, Spectacular Scene

Recently, over 2000 dolphins gathered in the clear blue waters off the coast of California in the United States, playing and leaping, forming a rare “superpod.” A private whale watching company in the area unexpectedly captured this spectacular sight in Monterey Bay and shared the video on social media, sparking widespread attention.

According to various media reports, Evan Brodsky, the captain and photographer of the Monterey Bay Whale Watch company in California, along with the company’s survey team, encountered this amazing scene about 18 kilometers offshore in Monterey Bay on February 21st.

They witnessed a large group of dolphins gliding and leaping in the azure waters, creating an exceptionally spectacular sight. Upon seeing this, Brodsky immediately used a drone to capture the video and shared it on social media with netizens.

The team estimated that this group of dolphins amounted to as many as 2000 individuals, consisting of Northern right whale dolphins and Pacific white-sided dolphins, with some small gray dolphins mixed in.

Monterey Bay Whale Watch company stated on social media, “A dolphin pod of such a large number is extremely rare, especially with many rare Northern right whale dolphins included.” They also pointed out that winter is the best time for dolphin watching in the area, as they had previously discovered about 1500 Risso’s dolphins congregating in the same area at the end of January.

According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States, Northern right whale dolphins are the only species of dolphins in the North Pacific region without dorsal fins, with very smooth bodies. They typically gather in groups of 100 to 200 for collective activities and are highly skilled at high jumps, capable of leaping out of the water over 6 meters.

In a playful interview, Brodsky humorously described the dolphins’ smooth bodies, saying that when they leap, “it looks like dancing eyebrows.” He recalled that both he and his team members were mesmerized by the sight, saying, “We were so excited that we could hardly contain ourselves, everyone was smiling from ear to ear.”

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in the U.S. speculates that these dolphins may have gathered in groups due to defense against predators or foraging purposes. They engage in playing with other members of the group, caring for young dolphins, warning each other of predator threats, as well as practicing courtship and collective hunting.