Another dolphin stampede has been filmed off Dana Point, Calif.
The incredible footage provided by Capt. Dave's Dolphin and Whale Safari shows an enormous pod of common dolphins engaged in a massive romp alongside the landing's catamaran.
There are even underwater views, captured from the boat's unique viewing pods.
Capt. David Anderson states in the video description that the stampede was "like a herd of wild horses."
He adds: "The line of wild dolphins could be seen from miles away churning up the water and, to the delight of whale watching passengers, the dolphins turned and stampeded directly over to the boat."
Interestingly, the term "stampede," while it accurately describes a phenomenon during which several sub-pods join up in collective feeding or playing behavior, is not widely used by researchers.
But it's certainly catchy.
When Dana Wharf Whale Watch captured a similar event last February, and referred to it as a stampede, the footage went viral. Many of the comments, however, were sharply critical because some viewers were under the impression that the captain was running over the dolphins with the 95-foot boat.
But no dolphins were struck by the vessel. In fact, common dolphins are famous for charging toward boats and swimming in their wakes, though typically in smaller pods.
There have been no documented cases of a whale-watching boat striking the swifter, agile mammals.
To be sure, being surrounded by dolphins, despite the size of the pods, is often the highlight of a Southern California whale-watching adventure.
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