There are few sights more awe inspiring than being surrounded by thousands of dolphins, as far as the eye can see.
This is exactly what happened to Naturetrek tour leader Sara Frost when she was leading a wildlife watching tour in Baja Peninsula, Mexico.
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“We came across this super pod of about 5,000 common dolphins,” she says of the experience, which she shared on Instagram. “Such congregations aren’t uncommon, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a breathtaking spectacle.”
When several pods of dolphins come together, they can form a super pod of hundreds or even thousands of animals.
These dolphins, Frost says, were likely here to feed: “Nutrient-rich waters support vast shoals of sardines, anchovies and other small fish, providing an abundant food source for dolphins and a host of other marine predators,” she says. “Gathering in large numbers may also help the dolphins to locate and herd prey more effectively.”
In her footage, the water churns as dolphin after dolphin breaks the surface alongside the boat. It was “one of the ocean's most spectacular wildlife encounters,” Frost says.
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Video courtesy of Sara Frost @frostythezoologist
