Orcas have sunk a sailing yacht near Gibraltar. The two crew members reported dull impacts against the hull, causing damage to the hull plate. Then water entered the boat and the sailors called out a distress call.
The incident took place on Sunday morning about 26 kilometers from Cape Spartel in Morocco. A helicopter then took off from Spain and a nearby tanker was asked to come to the aid of the shipwrecked people, the newspaper “El País” reported. An hour after the distress call, the two sailors were safely brought aboard the tanker.
The 15 meter yacht could not be salvaged and sank shortly afterwards. This is the seventh incident since 2020 (see video above). Researchers studying the animals’ behavior believe the yacht was rammed by killer whales, which belong to a group of 37 marine mammals that live between the north of the Iberian Peninsula and the Strait of Gibraltar in the south.
Response to a negative experience?
It is not known why the orcas have repeatedly targeted boats since 2020. Researchers speak of ‘interactions’. It could be that the animals just want to play, but it could also be a reaction to a negative experience with a ship.
Source: Krone
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