Rare whale surprises reporter during live TV interview

Talk about a once in a lifetime opportunity.

BBC’s Steve Backshall, host of Big Blue Live, couldn’t contain his excitement when the camera crew in the station’s helicopter spotted a blue whale in Monterrey Bay, California.

Backshall was interviewing whale expert Dorris Welch when he was notified that a blue whale was nearby.

“I don’t believe what I’ve just heard,” Backshall exclaimed. “The largest animal ever known to have lived on our planet. Larger than the dinosaurs. It’s back. It’s here. It’s in the bay now. This is one of the most extraordinary things I’ve ever seen.”

Backshall said he never thought when he began his career in wildlife 16 years ago that he’d be able to photograph the majestic creature.

Fishermen had driven blue whales to near extinction, which makes spotting one a truly unique experience.

The threats facing the enormous mammal are: habitat loss, toxic materials in the ecosystem and climate change, according to the World Wildlife Federation.