Rare dolphin sightings reported in British Columbia waters

Two dolphins that are usually found in California were spotted off the coast of Vancouver Island, an unusual sighting for British Columbia waters. The longbeaked common dolphins were seen in Esperanza Inlet on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island and near Malcolm Island off the island’s northeast coast. Marine Education and Research Society whale researcher Jackie Hildering said the species is rarely seen this far north. Hildering noted that warmer ocean conditions linked to El Niño may be helping some species move farther north than usual, though Pacific whitesided dolphins remain the more common species in B.C. waters. The sighting comes shortly after another rare marine animal, a fin whale, was reported off Vancouver Island.