KTLA

Killer whales are dazzling tourists off the Los Angeles coast

Killer whales continue to put a killer show off the coast of Los Angeles.

Video and photos shared by Long Beach-based Harbor Breeze Cruises show a pod of orcas spotted by one of its whale-watching charters near the Palos Verdes Peninsula on Saturday.


The Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas have only been spotted a few times in recent years, but lately they have been seen frequently between the peninsula and Malibu, which experts say is the northernmost area of their range.

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“This is the third time in less than a week we have seen these amazing whales off of the coast during one of our tours,” said Harbor Breeze spokesperson Jeff Forney.

Earlier in the week, another whale-watching charter saw the pod actively hunting dolphins. The adult killer whales are also nurturing at least two calves, Jessica Rodriguez of Newport Coastal Adventures told KTLA 5 News.

Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family. A male can grow to nearly 33 feet in length and weigh around 22,000 pounds, according to the non-profit Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas are typically found in the waters off Mexico and Central America, but can also venture as far west as Hawaii.