Rare whale birth off the coast of California caught on camera

Sightings of false killer whales are rare enough off the coast of Southern California, and on Saturday, a few lucky boat passengers were able to witness a once in a lifetime event: The birth of a calf.

A pod of 40 false killer whales — cousins of the better-known orcas — started to swim next to a catamaran operated by Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale Safari, and a few began to push against the port side of the boat. "There was a sudden burst of blood and the newborn calf popped out," the company said in a statement. Several whales surrounded the calf, and spent at least 10 minutes pushing it to the surface of the water as it learned how to swim, Capt. Tom Southern said.

False killer whales are normally found in warmer waters, and aren't often spotted near California; Southern said the last time he saw one was in 2014 and before that, it had been nearly a decade, KTLA reports. Southern said he has never witnessed anything like that on the water, and a member of the crew told him it was "his most emotional moment on the ocean ever." Catherine Garcia

YouTube

Watch On