Since the spring of 2020, reports of attacks by killer whales, also known as killer whales, on sailboats in the Atlantic have been increasing. Crews fear the animals, which can be up to eight meters long, and boats are sometimes badly damaged. Marine biologists and other researchers are puzzled. Why do killer whales suddenly behave this way?
The fear can be heard in the voices and eyes of victims for months to come. “It took a lot of time. Maybe half an hour. But it seemed like an eternity to us,” Andrea Fantini recently told Spanish television channel RTVE. Six or seven killer whales attacked his racing yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar and ‘devour’, among other things the rudder blade, the boat captain reported Fantini observed “very aggressive behavior” from the animals.
Killer whales also attack other sea giants, such as sharks and other whales. However, in the past they did not focus on boats.
Ship crews reported the first incidents in the spring of 2020. Since then, many sailors have had to experience similar horror scenes. Media reports of killer whale attacks are piling up this year. At least 53 have been registered since January, says biologist Alfredo López of the organization GT Atlantic Orca. Twelve boats were so badly damaged that they had to be towed away.
Swiss boat sunk by killer whales
There were also incidents off the coast of Portugal and further north in the Atlantic Ocean off the Spanish region of Galicia. At the beginning of May, the Swiss boat Champagne sank off the coast of Cádiz after an incident with killer whales. It was “not really funny,” skipper Werner Schaufelberger (72) told the “Blick” portal.
A solution must be found quickly, Fantini now insists. Otherwise, smaller ships would no longer be able to sail in the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, between Europe and Africa. But researchers don’t know why killer whales are now displaying such aggressive behavior. López, a world-renowned marine biologist, has two theories.
The first: the killer whales of the dolphin family may have invented “something new”. They are highly intelligent, curious and highly social creatures that learn from their peers. It has been observed in the past that individual orca groups have developed idiosyncratic habits.
Revenge of an orca mother?
“But it can also be a response to a negative experience,” says López. “That means one or more animals may have had a bad experience and are trying to stop the boats so it doesn’t happen again.”
The whale lady also has a name: Gladis Blanca, White Gladis. For example, she or one of her young could have become entangled in a fishing net or hit by a boat. Among other things, the fact that Gladis Blanca even attacked boats with her newborn daughter in 2021 speaks for a reaction to a negative experience. “The motivation that drives them to interact seems to outweigh the maternal protective instinct,” says López.
Renaud de Stephanis, on the other hand, believes that the orcas really just want to have fun. “It is clear that these are games,” the president of the environmental organization Circe told RTVE. Younger animals have started this behavior and now two mothers are also active, he assures. It is expected that the incidents will stop once the orcas are tired of this game.
Attacks are concentrated in a small area
Some marine biologists bluntly admit that they “have no idea”. Interestingly, while killer whales live in oceans worldwide, the documented attacks occurred in the relatively small area south and west of the Iberian Peninsula. According to estimates, a total of 35 to a maximum of 60 animals have been involved so far.
A first safety measure, namely the imposition of driving bans on smaller boats, did not yield any results. Now the government in Madrid has started equipping individual killer whales with GPS trackers to alert captains if necessary.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
