Spanish rescue services have reported that an unspecified number of killer whales attacked a sailing yacht in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar, causing it to sink. This disturbing incident marks a new trend that has been observed over the past four years.
The 15-meter (49-foot) two-seater Alboran Cognac was targeted by the highly social predator, also known as the killer whale, at 9 a.m. local time (7 a.m. GMT) on Sunday, according to the agency’s statement.
Passengers onboard felt a sudden impact on the ship’s hull and rudder before water started to flood in. Once they alerted rescue services, a nearby oil tanker came to their aid and transported them to Gibraltar.
Unfortunately, the yacht was left adrift and eventually sank.
This incident is just the latest in a series of repeated killer whale ramming events around the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Europe and Africa, off the Atlantic coast of Portugal, and northwestern Spain.
Experts suspect that a subgroup of approximately 15 individuals, known as “Gladys,” may be responsible for these attacks.
According to the research group GTOA, which monitors the Iberian killer whale subspecies population, there have been nearly 700 interactions since the first reported incidents of killer whale attacks on ships in the region in May 2020.
The motive behind this behavior remains unclear. It could be a playful demonstration of curiosity by the animals, a cultural behavior, or a deliberate effort to eliminate what they see as competition for their preferred prey, the local bluefin tuna. Various hypotheses are being considered.
The endangered killer whale, also known as the orca, is a member of the dolphin family. As adults, they can grow up to 8 meters in length and weigh up to 6 tons.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
