Orcas interact with boaters in emotional close encounter
Emotions ran high when orcas appeared alongside the small boat and began to interact with passengers and crew in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez.
“I laughed and cried and was in utter disbelief,” Tara Weberg recalled.
It was Weberg’s 12th trip to Bahia de los Angeles and each previous time she had hoped to see orcas. On this day, April 20, her wish came true in the form of 12 orcas spread out in three pods of four.
“My initial reaction when our captain Pancho spotted them was ‘No way!’ ” she said.
Weberg, who lives in Yucca Valley in Southern California, was with Chalie Harmer, owner of Silver Shark Adventures, and Capt. Pancho Verdugo.
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The first of two clips accompanying this post shows four orcas, including a newborn calf, swimming alongside the boat and exhaling loudly each time they surface to breathe.
The second clip shows two orcas swimming alongside and immediately behind the boat, at times opening their mouths in what might be considered unusual behavior.
Said Harmer, who can be seen placing his phone only inches from one orca’s head: “I’ve heard stories previously that fishermen in Baja sometimes toss the orcas fish when they’re feeling threatened by them. Perhaps this is a learned behavior.”
Tara Weberg expresses joy during orca encounter
Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas, or killer whales, are spotted sporadically in the Sea of Cortez and have been known to surf behind vessels and express curiosity toward boaters.
But encounters such as this are still considered rare.
Harmer recalled how the excitement level increased once the initial sighting occurred:
“As soon as my captain spotted them with the binoculars in the distance, he turned and looked at me with eyes wide open. I knew right there we got the orcas.
“A few seconds later, I saw a huge dorsal fin in the distance and realized we were just gifted a day we’d never forget.
“Tara still didn’t completely get it and kept on looking back at us with a look of disbelief. Pancho and I didn’t tell her anything. We wanted her to figure it out and react without our help.
“She completely lost it as all of her emotions came out. Both me and Pancho realized how incredible the moment was and were all emotional for her.
“Watching her and Pancho that day was as rewarding as observing the orcas.”