A group of dolphins was spotted in the Qilianyu Islands, part of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, on Wednesday.

There were more than ten dolphins, and the largest ones were about two meters long. Known as false killer whales, these dolphins are large members of the dolphin family, and are under second-class protection in China. 

The dolphins were occasionally jumping out of the water and diving back into the sea. They swam fast to play with each other as if they were having a party. After five minutes they disappeared in giant waves. 

"They jumped and swam in the sea with sweet calls, this is the first time I've seen so many dolphins, I am very happy and excited," said Lv Shuai, a member of the Navigation Management Section, Sansha Maritime Safety Administration.

Similar to killer whales in appearance, false killer whales are smaller in size, and weigh about one to two tons each.

Their habitat is greatly influenced by food resources and their reproduction rate is very low. Experts believe the discovery of the false killer whales in Qilianyu is largely due to the improved ecological environment and abundant fish resources in the area.

"Our Qilianyu Working Committee has set up the island regulator system to protect the ecological environment. Now the ecological environment of Qilianyu is getting better with clean water, white sand and green islands, and the seabirds, sea turtles and dolphins have come back here. It was a rare scene in the past to see so many dolphins," said Liang Feng, residential committee director of the Zhaoshu Island, Qilianyu Working Committee.

(Cover image via VCG.)