Killer Whales in Tokyo Bay- level 3

Ships sailing through Tokyo Bay have been warned of killer whales spotted in the area.

The Japanese Coast Guard says three to four were filmed just over 3 miles off the coast of Kanaya Bay in Chiba Prefecture on Monday.

Video footage shows them swimming elegantly, undeterred by nearby ships. It's understood the warning was given following accidents in the past where boats collided with whales and other sea animals.

The Coast Guard says it is very rare for killer whales to be seen in Tokyo Bay. According to the authorities, they were also spotted by fishermen around the same area on Tuesday.

The killer whale, also referred to as the orca whale or orca, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. They can be found in all oceans, from the Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. They can be difficult to census given their worldwide distribution, however, it's estimated that their global population is at least 50,000.

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Difficult words: spot (to see), undeterred (not bothered), census (an official count or survey).