A false killer whale breaching. Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via Wikimedia Commons.

In an unusual occurrence, a rarely-sighted species of dolphin was spotted on Wednesday in the waters off the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat.

According to the Hebrew news outlet Mako, the pod was identified as being composed of false killer whales. While it is a relatively common species and not considered endangered, close encounters with the animals are rare.

Approximately ten dolphins were observed swimming in the Red Sea close to Eilat, with one estimated to be six meters in length and one and a half tons in weight.

Observers from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority followed the dolphins for a short time and managed to document several of them. They then left Israeli waters in the direction of Egypt.

False killer whales are considered highly intelligent and social animals. They have been successfully kept in captivity and easily interact with humans. However, they can be extremely aggressive toward other dolphins.

View an Israel Nature and Parks Authority video of the pod of false killer whales in the Red Sea near Eilat below: