A group of killer whales surprised residents on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast by coming close to the shore and engaging in a unique behavior of rubbing their bellies on rocks. Ryan Chilibeck, a Gibsons resident, hurried to Secret Beach Park upon hearing about the orcas’ presence on January 2. He was fortunate to witness the spectacular sight as the pod of orcas swam back and forth just a few feet from the shore, captivating a gathered crowd.
The whales identified as northern resident killer whales (NRKW) belonged to the A5 pod, consisting of three different families, as confirmed by Jared Towers, the executive director of Bay Cetology. This behavior of rubbing their bellies against the pebbles is specific to the A5 pod, who are known to favor the pebbles along the Sunshine Coast for this activity.
According to Towers, this behavior is rare and specialized among killer whale populations globally. The whales find the smooth rocks beneficial for exfoliation, as their skin is constantly shedding. The community on the Sunshine Coast connected over these whale sightings, with Chilibeck expressing his excitement as a devoted orca enthusiast.
Glenda Sewards, who runs a local Facebook group sharing whale sightings, aims to spread the joy of witnessing these magnificent creatures with the entire community. The group was established over a decade ago following Sewards’ own whale sightings from her Langdale back deck. Sewards finds joy in the community’s enthusiasm and excitement over the whale sightings, making the experience a shared delight for all involved.