One of the killer whales was attacked during the “Copa del Rey” sailing regatta in Mallorca. Race organizers announced on Friday that the “Kapote III” was en route to the holiday island when it was attacked near the Spanish coastal town of Estepona on Thursday evening. The crew was not injured, it said.
Reports of orca attacks off the coasts of Spain and Portugal have been piling up for months. According to data from the organization “GT Orca Atlántica” (GTOA), they are mainly found in the Strait of Gibraltar. There, on July 11, the boat “Corsario” was badly damaged in an attack. She was also on her way to Mallorca to participate in the “Copa del Rey” from July 29, in which Spain’s King Felipe VI normally also participates. denies.
Three weeks ago, killer whales attacked two racing yachts at The Ocean Race near Gibraltar. The crew of the JAJO team filmed the attacks (see video above). In recent years there have been repeated orca attacks off the south coast of Spain, which cannot really be explained.
Orcas tore off a piece of the rudder
In the attack on “Kapote III”, the animals, also called killer whales, tore off a piece of the rudder. The boat could no longer maneuver and had to be towed out to sea by the Spanish rescue service. The attack by “three or four” of the mammals probably lasted five to 10 minutes, crew member Santi Villagrán said. “But we were all so nervous that no one really knows. Everyone says something different.”
Although there are always “attacks” by killer whales, researchers prefer to speak of “interactions” because the exact cause of these incidents is not yet known. Some, such as the president of the environmental organization Circe, Renaud de Stephanis, are convinced that the orcas just want to play.
Meanwhile, GTOA biologist Alfredo López says it could also be a reaction to a negative experience with a ship or boat. But it’s also possible that the highly intelligent killer whales of the dolphin family simply “invented something new.”
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.
