AUDUN RIKARDSEN
In 2020 sailors off the Iberian peninsula began reporting that orcas were ‘attacking’ their vessels. From the Strait of Gibraltar to the coasts of Galicia and the seas off Portugal and Morocco, the five-tonne apex predators, capable of swimming at 48km/h (30mph) – faster than most yachts – were approaching, investigating, rubbing and then ramming boats, terrifying those on board.
Since then, over 670 interactions like this have been documented, all by a group of about 15 orcas. About a fifth resulted in severe damage, scores of boats were disabled and six vessels sunk. A group of experts rapidly gathered and in May they gave their conclusion. The orcas aren’t attacking. Instead, according to the experts, the whales may be ‘bored’ and playing with the boats. Our vessels may just be part of a ‘fad’ in their culture.