Pod of dolphins spotted off Ashdod coast

A pod of around 25 dolphins was filmed Friday off the coast of Ashdod as they frolicked about with a young calf.

The group of common bottlenose dolphins was spotted by wildlife inspectors for the Nature and Parks Authority, out on a survey of local marine mammals.

Officials said they are familiar with the pod and often come by it near the coast.

The Mediterranean bottlenose dolphin is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Israel’s beaches have been designated as an important habitat for the species.