Orcas, or Killer Whales as they are commonly called have started a recent trend since 2020 that has caused concern for sailors on the sea. This involves the recent orca attacks on boats that are traveling the sea that have started since 2020.
Therefore, the Portuguese and Spanish governments decided to hire scientists to understand why this was happening and how they could prevent future accidents.
Orcas
Orcas are the largest members of the oceanic dolphin family. They are easily identifiable thanks to their signature black-and-white body patterns. While orcas are generally unproblematic towards humans, there have been several recorded cases of them attacking boats.
However, scientists have found that the reason for this trend is simple: boredom.
Many Orca Attacks
Most of the orca attacks that have been recorded happened around the Iberian Peninsula, which is off the coast of Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Since 2020, the government has recorded 673 attacks by orcas around the Iberian Peninsula, which were aimed at boats smaller than 40 feet in total length.
More specifically, the orcas tend to attack the spade rudders of the boats.
The Iberian Peninsula
According to reports, these attacks seem to be limited to the Iberian Peninsula only. While orcas attacking and sinking boats is not very common, it has only been reported to have happened in the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, only 20% of these attacks have damaged the boats, and just three of these boats have sunk.
The last recorded sink that was caused by an orca attack was in May earlier this year.
Attacks Have Caused the Sinking of Boats
The majority of the orca attacks have not damaged the boats. However, some other attacks by these orcas caused significant damage and even completely sunk their boats.
Therefore, the Spanish and Portuguese governments decided to take charge and order scientists to find out why these attacks were happening to keep both the animals and humans on the water safe.
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Varying Theories on the Attacks
Before scientists came out with an official report to explain this behavior, many people had different theories about why the attacks were happening. Some believed that it was due to the recent increase in boating activities on the sea after humans spent a lot of time away from the waters due to the pandemic.
Others believed that orcas were hungry and saw the boats as prey.
Orcas Are Highly Intelligent
It is common knowledge that orcas, who are part of the dolphin family, are very intelligent creatures. Therefore, this increase in attacks on the boats caused some people to propose a theory that they were simply curious.
Since they also love to play, some people believed that boats may have been a source of intrigue for the orcas and they did not mean to damage them while playing.
Climate Change Theory
Another popular theory was attributed to climate change. Thanks to the deterioration of the climate system, the sea temperatures have been increasing, thereby causing a significant change in the availability of prey.
Therefore, this can also cause the orcas’ behaviors to change, and they could begin to exhibit aggressive or territorial behaviors that can lead to attacks on boats.
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Possible Bad Experiences With Boats
Another theory considered was that one or some of the orcas could have had bad experiences with boats. This is because they are quite similar to humans in reasoning and can have bad experiences as well.
However, the report showed that the probability of this theory being the cause of so many boat attacks was very unlikely.
The IWC
The governments have the International Whaling Commission (IWC) the task of finding out what was causing these orca attacks. The job was led by the IWC’s chair, Alex Zerbini, and the results of their investigation were very surprising to the scientists and government as well.
They have also found that this recent trend by the orcas is being passed down as a sort of tradition from older orcas to the younger ones.
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Orcas Are Playing With Boat Rudders
According to the report, the reason why orcas are attacking boats is because they like to play with boat rudders. Therefore, whenever they are bored or just in the mood to play, they head straight for the rudders of any boat in sight.
Since the bluefin tuna, which is their primary source of food, is now in abundance thanks to conservative efforts, they have more playtime and do not have to hunt as much as before.
A Growing Trend
Just like humans follow trends, orcas are smart enough to do the same. Therefore, scientists believe that one orca started playing with a boat and found it fun, and other orcas who saw it decided to do the same.
This is not uncommon as orcas have had many trends over the years including wearing dead salmon as hats and playing games of chicken in the water.
What To Do in the Case of an Attack
After conceding on the results of their investigation, the scientists of the IWC offered advice to mariners whenever they see an orca approaching their boat while at sea. They advised them to move about 2-3km away from the orcas as fast as they could and towards an area where a rescue could happen.
This gives a higher chance of rescuing and may also reduce the chances of the orcas damaging or sinking the boat.
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