Breathtaking drone footage captures a pod of 30 dolphins playing together off the coast of Japan

  • The footage shows a pod of at least 30 dolphins in the Sea of Japan
  • It was captured off the coast of Joetsu city on the island of Hokkaido
  • The white-sided dolphins visit the harbour to hunt for fish such as salmon
  • White-sided dolphins are a social species which live in pods of up to 100 

By Steven Trask For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 08:26, 21 May 2016 | Updated: 08:26, 21 May 2016

A drone has captured beautiful footage showing a pod of 30 dolphins swimming off the western coast of Japan.

The pod of pacific white-sided dolphins gracefully move through the harbour in a display that looks choreographed.

The footage was captured in the Sea of Japan near the city of Joetsu on the island of Hokkaido. 

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The white-sided dolphins were filmed swimming off the west coast of Japan near the city of Joetsu

The white-sided dolphins were filmed swimming off the west coast of Japan near the city of Joetsu

The drone hovers above the harbour and captures the dolphins in a sweeping motion, which shows the sheer scale of their 30-strong pod.

White-sided dolphins can swim as fast as 20 miles per hour, with the filmer commenting that he had a hard time keeping up with the pod.

The filmer said the dolphins were likely in the Joetsu harbour to hunt for fish such as salmon and anchovies.

At least 30 dolphins were filmed swimming in the harbour - were they frequently hunt for fish such as salmon

At least 30 dolphins were filmed swimming in the harbour - were they frequently hunt for fish such as salmon

White-sided dolphins are a social species which can live in pods of up to 100 individuals

White-sided dolphins are a social species which can live in pods of up to 100 individuals

White-sided dolphins are a social species that live in pods ranging from 10 to 100 in size.

They prefer deeper, temperate waters and are found throughout the North Pacific.

They are not an endangered species and their population has been estimated to be as large as 1 million.

The dolphins can swim as fast as 20 miles per hour, with the film's author commenting he had a hard time flying his drone fast enough to keep up with them

The dolphins can swim as fast as 20 miles per hour, with the film's author commenting he had a hard time flying his drone fast enough to keep up with them