In pics: Flock of false killer whales re-appears in Hurghada

CAIRO – 9 February 2022: A flock of false killer whales were seen near shores of Giftun Island in Hurghada during a diving trip Wednesday morning.

The flock included 7 false killer whales swimming; the group appeared on the surface of the water.

Being one of the rare species of dolphins, the false killer whale is a unique and rare marine creatures. They belong to the whale family, and they were named “false killer” because they resembled killer whales.

Ahmed Bijou, a diver in Hurghada, said that during a diving trip, a group of strange-shaped dolphins appeared near them, resembling dolphins.

Bijou added that these dolphins are rare and appear in the Red Sea environment in search of food, and their appearance indicates it is a suitable environment for them.

Dr. Mahmoud Dar, Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences, revealed in previous statements that the appearance of these creatures confirms their feeling of safety and the presence of food in that area, which confirms that there is a distinctive biological diversity in the Red Sea.

The first appearance of the false killer dolphin in the waters of the Red Sea, according to official records, was in 1985. The last appearance was monitored last year near the beaches of El Gouna.

The false killer dolphin is similar to the killer whale, but it is not a whale, but rather a dolphin that often reaches 5 meters in length.

It is noteworthy that the Red Sea includes 13 species of marine dolphins; Egypt recorded the appearance of 3 types of whales, in the Red Sea, they are: the Bryde's whale, the humpback, and the blue whale.