Moonwalking Orca Sighting Stuns Crowd in Once-in-a-Lifetime Encounter
Visitors at West Vancouver’s Lighthouse Park got more than they bargained for when a killer whale appeared to defy the rules of nature. In the quiet waters of Howe Sound, a female orca glided backward through the surf—smoothly, deliberately, and right in front of stunned onlookers.
Known among researchers as “moonwalking,” the rare behavior mesmerized everyone who saw it, including the family who managed to capture it on video and post it to a local Facebook group dedicated to regional whale sightings.
The orca didn’t just reverse its path. The sleek movement was so fluid, so unforced, that it appeared choreographed. Birds skimmed ahead in the frame as the whale retreated below them. To many, it looked like a moment of play. But to scientists, it may have meant something far more complex.
A killer whale was seen swimming backward near West Vancouver.
The Science Behind the Stride
Marine biologist Anna Hall has observed this phenomenon before. She explained that this behavior is specific to Bigg’s killer whales—transient orcas that hunt marine mammals instead of fish.
As noted in Discover Wildlife, the backward swimming might be connected to how these whales process and share their prey. It’s not a performance—it’s potentially a grisly part of a meal, where a whale might be dividing up its kill to distribute among the pod
Known individuals, like a female transient named T65A Artemis, have previously been spotted doing this after hunting harbor porpoises. In this case, the presence of seabirds circling above the backward-moving whale could indicate that a kill had just occurred.
As Kenora Online confirmed, the moonwalk is often observed alongside prey sharing events. While no audible feeding noises were captured during the West Vancouver sighting, the context remains compelling.
The behavior is known among scientists as "moonwalking."
A Rare and Real Moment
Despite the digital age’s tendency to cast doubt on anything extraordinary, there was no editing magic involved here. The video, posted to social media by the MacGillivary family, was verified as authentic by both the witnesses and scientists. It was a moment of chance. The family happened to be in the right place at exactly the right time. A mother’s excited reaction, a daughter’s camera rolling, and an orca behaving in a way most people will never witness with their own eyes.
The footage quickly made its way to local and national outlets. As 93.1 The Border explained, such a sighting is not just rare—it’s biologically significant. These behaviors, while not new to researchers, remain infrequent and largely undocumented by the public. Now, thanks to the widespread interest and the reach of the local whale-watching community, more people are learning about this unique killer whale conduct.
What We’re Learning From the Orcas
Every new sighting like this provides insight into the lives of transient orcas. Unlike their resident cousins, who focus on fish, these marine mammals show more complex hunting strategies. Moonwalking is just one tool in their growing behavioral arsenal.
The smooth backward motion might not serve a direct mechanical function like echolocation or tail slaps, but it may be a social or cooperative cue. It could be communication. It could be ritual. Or it could simply be a practical, if unusual, way to handle food.
Still, as CKDR reports, we’re left with more questions than answers. And maybe that’s part of the beauty. These animals remain wild, mysterious, and deeply complex. And even now, with cameras in every pocket and whale researchers across the coast, they’re still capable of surprising us.
