An unknown number of killer whales rammed a yacht in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar on Sunday morning, later causing it to sink. It’s the latest attack in a trend that has terrorized seafarers in the region for the past four years.
The latest incident occurred around 9 a.m. when the crew of the 50-foot-long Alboran Cognac called rescuers for help, saying the vessel had been damaged by an apex predator about 14 miles from Cape Spartel. This is reported by local media outlet El Pais. He told the story of a Spanish sea rescue team. Cape Spartel is located at the southern entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar.
A helicopter was dispatched and requested assistance from the oil tanker MT Lascaux, which was sailing nearby.
Killer whales may be attacking boats as revenge for injured mother: scientists
Killer whales follow the helm of Team JAJO as they participate in the Ocean Race on a boat approaching the Strait of Gibraltar on June 22, 2023. A pod of killer whales collided with one of the boats during an endurance sailing race. (Ocean Race via AP)
The tanker eventually rescued the two people on board and transported them to Gibraltar. The yacht was left adrift and eventually sank.
The incident is the latest in a series of orca rammings in the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Europe and Africa, off the Atlantic coast of Portugal and off northwestern Spain.
Experts believe a subgroup of about 15 people, given the name “Gladys,” may be involved.
The Atlantic Orca Task Force (GTOA), a research group that tracks the population of the Iberian orca subspecies, says there have been nearly 700 orca attacks on ships in the region since May 2020, when they were first reported. It is said that there was an exchange.
Video shows killer whale biting the rudder off a ship near Spain
A killer whale jumps out of the water in the ocean near Rausu, Hokkaido on July 1, 2019. (Reuters/Kim Kyung-hoon/File photo)
It’s unclear why killer whales target ships, but some experts believe it may be an act of revenge.
Marine biologist Alfredo López Fernández previously told Live Science that the whale, a female orca that scientists call White Gladys, was in “significant distress”, possibly from a collision with a boat or entanglement in fishing line. He said he experienced a “moment” and became more aggressive. .
Other theories include a playful display of mammal curiosity, social fads, or deliberate targeting of what they perceive to be competitors of their favorite prey, the local bluefin tuna. there is.
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On June 5th, the first splash of killer whales is seen as they pass under a boat in the Strait of Gibraltar. (Dan Kriz/Reliance Yacht Management/Local News X/TMX)
All but a few suffered only minor injuries or damage. However, attacks have become more frequent, and several have led to the sinking of boats.
For example, last August, 77-year-old Fep Philouseros was sailing off Cape Vincent in Portugal when his boat was attacked by an orca. According to the sailor, who has 55 years of experience, the killer whale continued to follow the boat for 30 minutes as it was being towed to shore. He captured part of the attack on video.
FOX News’ Peter Aitken and Reuters contributed to this report.
