Mystery Orca Attacks Sink Another Boat
In an alarming incident, a pod of orcas in southwestern Europe attacked and sank a sailing boat in the Strait of Gibraltar on Halloween. This marks the fourth such attack in two years, raising concerns among sailors. These orcas, also known as killer whales, have been harassing boats and passengers in the region for over three years.
While incidents of orca ambushes have been on the rise, with reported cases increasing from 52 in 2020 to over 200 in the past year, no human injuries or deaths have been reported. Experts first observed juvenile Iberian killer whales exhibiting unusual behavior towards vessels in 2020, with some experts speculating that the rest of the population might be mimicking this behavior.
Two main theories have emerged to explain this behavior. The first suggests that orcas may be engaging in a form of “play” or “sport.” The second theory posits that years of traumatic encounters with boats have created a “negative experience” for the orcas, leading to these attacks.
Despite the damage caused, experts stress that there is no inherent aggression towards humans in boats. They believe the motivation behind these incidents remains somewhat mysterious and is not necessarily driven by aggression. Efforts are underway to address this issue through international coordination between administrations, mariners, and scientists to prevent future damage to both people and ves
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