Riders on False Creek Ferries were treated to an incredible surprise in Vancouver Sunday when a group of orcas surfaced right next to the boats.
Riders and workers captured video of the breached killer whales with Vancouver’s skyline in the background.
The videos quickly gained popularity on social media, with Vancouverites commenting on how lucky passengers were to see the whales.
Others had some jokes about the killer whale sighting.
“Leaving after seeing Taylor Swift ticket prices,” one person commented.
“Trying to beat the lineup at Lee’s Donuts,” said another.
Canada’s current rules for protecting orcas prevent boats from approaching them from a distance of 400 metres. That rule doesn’t apply to boats travelling directly from one point to another — what’s called a “vessel in transit.”
False Creek Ferries operates a fleet that transports about a dozen customers at a time to and from points along False Creek, including Science World, Yaletown, Granville Island, Kitsilano, and the West End.
No rules were broken here since the ferries were following their schedule and not pursuing the orcas. And clearly, no one told the whales about the 400-metre rule.
Have you ever seen orcas in False Creek? Let us know in the comments.