Are orcas wreaking revenge by ramming boats in the Strait of Gibraltar??
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325759)
Rockingham, Australia
May 27, 2023 12:02am CST
On our news last night was a report on a pod of killer whales (orcas) that attacked a sailing boat off the coast of southern Spain. This is becoming quite a common occurrence with dozens of attacks occurring on the Spanish and Portuguese coasts, and particularly in the Strait of Gibraltar where, in May, at least 20 encounters occurred.
As adults, orcas might measure eight metres long and weigh up to six tonnes so having one of them ram a yacht or small vessel is not to be sneezed at, so to speak. So far, experts have been unable to say why this might be happening. It will make a good film one day – The Revenge of the Orcas.
The photo is from Wikimedia Commons and is in the public domain.
17 people like this
18 responses
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
27 May
I haven't heard about this before but it's not something Pretty would tell me about, either. How very odd.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
27 May
@JudyEv Orcas are part of the dolphin family. They're very intelligent.
I did find an interesting article about it if you're interested.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-has-a-group-of-orcas-suddenly-started-attacking-boats/#
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 May
@DaddyEvil Thanks for the link. I wonder if they'll ever discover the reason. And how about them wearing salmon on their heads? That's a bit different.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
27 May
I read one article that theorized the Orca attacks were, from their point of view, a game. They are highly intelligent and very social animals. It's possible they are just having fun and don't know or care about the consequences to the humans on the boats.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111164)
• El Paso, Texas
27 May
I have the feeling that 'The Revenge of the Orcas' might just be exactly what is happening. Orcas are very smart so I'd have to wonder if those once captive orcas were able to communicate what kind of treatment they got from humans. It seems to me they're getting even with humans.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86755)
• United States
27 May
I read about that..they are getting quite vengeful.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86755)
• United States
29 May
@JudyEv I know right..I have watched a BBC nature show of them recently. They are not nice.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
•
3 Jun
I wonder what their reason is for attacking boats? Defending their territory?
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13320)
• Hong Kong
27 May
I read that orcas are very intelligent. Some research found that their IQ is comparable to that of 15 or 16 years old humans. They may have some plans.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 May
@Beestring That is one of the reasons that they're suggesting.
@Beestring (13320)
• Hong Kong
27 May
@JudyEv They may had some bad experience with boats.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 May
You could well be right. Humans are forever going where they're not wanted.
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
27 May
The Orcas started in 2020 to follow sailing boats to play and later to attack sailing boats along the Iberian coasts. According to the experts, the orcas do not intend to be aggressive, but due to their size they causa damages.
Orcas come to the coast of Portugal to feed on the tuna that live around the Gibraltar Strait. May be they are more aggressive when they want to "protect" the area where thy find their food.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73407)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 May
I have not idea why suddenly this would happen but I can hazard a guess that something has happened to upset them greatly and that it will all stop if one could discover what is wrong,
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
27 May
@JudyEv Maybe so. Or they're upset at all the plastic pollution.
1 person likes this
@Butterfingers (66585)
• India
27 May
Yes I'll be excited to watch a movie on this some day
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 May
So far, any people involved have been rescued but it's easy to think there might be some deaths if it keeps happening.
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 May
As you would think it might! I wouldn't want to be on some small craft and have a great orca bearing down on me.
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 May
Maybe their patience has run out and they're claiming back their territory.
