Killer whales that sink boats are not ‘motivated by revenge’ as scientists give new reasons for violent orca attacks

Killer whales are not destroying boats in bizarre acts of revenge against sailors, scientists have announced.

A new study has revealed the real reason for its recent and intriguing behavior: sinking six ships in recent years.

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“At least 673 interactions with Iberian killer whales have been documented since the first one was reported in May 2020,” one report said. joint report co-sponsored by the Spanish and Portuguese governments.

After an extensive workshop that investigated the latest evidence, scientists concluded in their May findings that Orca interactions are not a sign of uncontrolled aggression.

Instead, the orcas — which have distinctive black and white markings and are actually the largest member of the dolphin family — are just “playing and socializing.”

In other words, it’s just bored teenagers having some fun, reported Live Science.

Researchers investigated complaints about orcas hitting rudders, often damaging and even breaking them, rendering ships unseaworthy.

ALMOST DEAD

In a terrifying encounter, British tourists sailing off the coast of Morocco feared for their lives when a pod of rogue killer whales attempted to sink their boat in an hour-long attack.

An international workshop, involving scientists and killer whale management authorities, was held in Madrid, Spain, in early February 2024 to resolve the puzzling behavior.

“Since 2021, interactions have resulted in the sinking of six vessels – four sailboats and two fishing boats,” the report states.

“These interactions appear to be attributed exclusively to the small Iberian killer whale population.”

But because Iberian orcas are critically endangered, researchers have urged sailors not to try to scare or kill them, for example, using fireworks, flares or electrocution.

Fined

In New Zealand, a “stupid” adrenaline junkie was filmed in February “attacking” a killer whale.

The 50-year-old was later fined NZ$600 for the Department of Conservation for showing a “shocking and stupid attitude towards protected marine mammals”.

The joint workshop said most of the damaged boats were sailboats – and there appears to be a core group of just 15 orcas regularly involved in the interactions.

“With the recovery of bluefin tuna, perhaps these whales, especially juveniles, will have more free time to explore new behaviors,” the report states.

“The incentive for this risky behavior can be high when fishing lines capture large prey with a high fat content.

“The whales target all types of rudders, including metal ones, which in some cases have bent.”

JUST PLAYING

“Killer whales are known to play with other objects or animals in their environment to the point of damaging them, so this behavior appears to be on that spectrum,” he continued.

“In the southern resident killer whale population of southern Washington, USA, which feed on salmon, individuals ‘play’ with porpoises to the point of killing them, which may be a similar escalation of an initially less harmful interaction.”

The workshop recommended that, in the event of an encounter, sailors move away from the whales as quickly as possible.

Ideally, this should be at least 2 to 3 km (about 1 to 2 miles) from the area where the whales were sighted, either towards the coast in the Gulf of Cádiz and the Strait of Gibraltar, or towards an area where rescue can be carried out. be expedited.

These interactions appear to be attributed exclusively to the small Iberian killer whale population.

Joint report

Additionally, tests are underway to determine the best – and safest for whales and sailors – way to dissuade orcas from such interactions with humans.

Acoustic deterrents were ruled out as they could scare the herd animals towards the shore – where they could become trapped and slowly die.

Handy maps have been published that show mariners the areas where they could likely encounter killer whales.

Heat maps were generated using satellite tagging and whale location reports in the Strait of Gibraltar.

And the Portuguese Navy is issuing navigation warnings that killer whales are present in an area.

ORCAS – HOW DANGEROUS ARE THEY?

ORCAS – also known as killer whales – are the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family.

The creatures are nicknamed “killer whales” because they hunt and eat other smaller species of dolphins.

Some also feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and other dolphins.

They are known as apex predators, meaning they are at the top of the food chain and no other animals feed on them.

There were no recorded incidents of orcas attacking humans before the bizarre boat attacks, but they are known to feed on other land mammals such as moose that swim between the islands.

There is also research into adding 1.5cm tapered protrusions to the hull and keel of sailboats.

“Whales typically hit rudders at the base of the blade,” the researchers said.

“The hypothesis is that these bulges would alter the whales’ perception of the rudder and, therefore, their behavior in relation to the boats, ending up extinguishing these interactions.

“The preliminary results are promising.

“The measures presented seek to balance the safety of navigators with
protecting whales from danger, promoting coexistence.”

I’M NOT MAD

Ultimately, scientists want this report to spread awareness that orcas are not malicious by nature.

“They don’t understand that they can damage the rudder and that damaging the rudder will affect humans,” said co-author Alex Zerbini, a senior researcher at the University of Washington.

“There is nothing in the animals’ behavior that suggests they are being aggressive,” Zerbini said. The Washington Post.

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