Killer whales cause severe damage to boat in attack in Spain
In the latest incident of orca aggression off the coast of Spain, a group of killer whales severely damaged a sailboat. The local maritime rescue service reported that the attack happened off the southern coast of Spain, adding to a growing number of orca attacks on ships in Spanish and Portuguese waters this year.
Early on Thursday, orcas hit the Mustique, a 20-metre sailboat sailing under the British flag on its way to Gibraltar. A group of orcas stormed the boat, breaking the rock and piercing the hull. The four-man crew immediately contacted Spanish authorities for assistance. The Maritime Rescue Service immediately deployed a response vessel and a helicopter with a bilge pump to assist the stricken boat. The Mustique was eventually brought to the port of Barbate in the province of Cadiz for repairs.
According to research group GTOA, which monitors the Iberian orca subspecies, the incident is one of at least 20 interactions documented this month between small vessels and these highly social apex predators in the Strait of Gibraltar. In 2022, a total of 207 interactions with orcas were reported in the same area.
In a previous incident in May, the cruise ship Albarn Champagne was also attacked by three orcas near Barbet. However, due to the extent of the damage and flooding, the ship could not be saved and sank.
Guidelines issued by the Spanish Ministry of Transport state that whenever ships encounter unusual behavior from orcas, such as sudden changes in direction or speed, they must leave the area immediately. should and avoid further disturbing the animals. Any interaction between ships and arcas must also be reported to the authorities.
Despite being commonly known as killer whales, these orcas are actually members of the dolphin family. As adults, they can reach a length of up to eight meters and weigh up to six tonnes. However, their populations are threatened, which highlights the need for conservation efforts to protect these magnificent creatures.