A subpopulation of killer whales in the Strait of Gibraltar has been attacking boats, causing significant damage and sinking some vessels, with the motive behind the attacks remaining unclear, raising concerns for the safety of both the orcas and boaters in the region.Â
In the past three years, a subpopulation of killer whales in the Strait of Gibraltar, off the coasts of Portugal and Spain, has been attacking boats. Researchers have recorded 505 cases of orcas reacting to boats since the first incident in May 2020. The attacks usually involve the orcas biting at the boats’ rudders, causing enough damage to disable them. The orcas have sunk several vessels, including a sailboat with five people on board in July 2022 and a Swiss sailing yacht in the most recent attack. The motive behind the attacks is unclear, with two hypotheses being that the orcas have either developed a new fad or are responding to a past negative experience with boats. The orcas’ behavior has raised concerns about their safety as they risk getting hurt in these interactions. The subpopulation of orcas in the region is critically endangered, with only 39 individuals remaining. Maritime authorities recommend that boaters slow down and avoid approaching orcas, but there is no guaranteed way to prevent the attacks.Â
