Sailors from Europe have been reporting a surge in encounters with orcas off the coasts of Spain and Portugal since 2020.
Earlier this month, we reported that a group of killer whales wrecked the rudders of a British sailor's yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar, adding to a string of related cases in the area recently.
The orcas involved in these encounters are not only ramming boats with their heads and damaging rudders with their teeth but have also been responsible for the sinking of three vessels this year alone.
Uncovering the Truth Behind Recent Orca Attacks
Insider recently interviewed a panel of orca experts, who unanimously agreed that these incidents were not driven by malice or anger on the part of the orcas.
Andrew Trites, director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, described the orcas as finding "a lot of pleasure" in these encounters.
However, Trites emphasized that this pleasure should not be interpreted as malicious intent, even though the boat owners and sailors may perceive the encounters as brutal.
Contrary to a theory suggesting that the orcas were attacking boats for revenge, the experts dismissed this idea, stating that no evidence supports such a claim.
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Orcas' Playfulness and Complex Emotions
Monika Wieland Shields, director of the Orca Behavior Institute, acknowledged the orcas' capacity for complex emotions but highlighted the absence of similar incidents occurring elsewhere.
Shields pointed out the long history of human harm inflicted upon the orca population, including shootings and live captures for entertainment, yet emphasized that wild orcas have not attacked boats.
According to Shields, the orcas' natural curiosity and playfulness likely explain these encounters rather than any intention of seeking revenge.
Orcas are highly social and curious animals known to interact with their environment. According to scientists, Orcas have the second-largest brains of any ocean mammal, weighing up to 15 pounds. These animals were also discovered to be exceptionally well-wired for sensing and evaluating their three-dimensional watery surroundings.
Shields drew parallels to orcas in the Salish Sea off the coast of Washington, where they often play with crab traps, eventually losing interest after a period of exploration. She theorized that the orcas in Spain might view the boats as similar toys.
Not Orca Attacks
Hanne Strager, a marine mammal biologist and author, supported the curiosity hypothesis, suggesting that the encounters should not be classified as "attacks" from the orcas' perspective.
Strager explained that while the incidents may appear dramatic to humans, they likely represent harmless exploration for the orcas.
Experts unanimously agreed that orcas specifically target sailboats due to the stimulating nature of "playing" with them.
Andrew Trites explained that orcas are highly tactile and sensitive to touch, much like humans. The act of ramming into boats might provide them with a pleasurable sensation.
Trites also suggested that the thrill of chasing a boat, mainly when the occupants create a commotion or attempt to speed away, further entices the orcas to engage in repeated ramming.
While experts believe that the orcas display playful behavior, the true motives of these encounters remain uncertain.
Killer whales were primarily viewed as a nuisance animal until the 1970s. Attitudes began to shift rapidly, owing mainly to exhibits at marine life parks that allowed people to learn about orcas in ways never before possible.
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