THIS is the reason why orcas keep attacking boats, according to whale researchers

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We don’t know if you’ve noticed, but in recent years there have been a number of orca attacks on boats

The first recorded attack occurred in the Strait of Gibraltar in May 2020, and although it was thought to be an anomaly at the time, it was far from it. In fact, over 600 interactions have been reported since 2020.

Strangely, it is only a group of Iberian orcas that is causing this terror. The orcas hunt sailboats and break their rudders. Before these attacks began, it was never thought that orcas were aggressive towards humans.

Speaking to the BBC, sailor Andrea Fantini recounted an attack on his boat. He said: “We saw the first orca coming, then the second, then the third, and then we were surrounded by orcas. There were seven orcas all around us, and they started attacking the rudder. It was super weird and a bit scary.”

While this does indeed sound scary, scientists are hesitant to call it an “attack” because the orcas may actually just be being playful. Instead, researchers refer to it as “orca interactions.”

The reason for orca attacks

While people on social media are rejoicing over a “communist uprising” by these marine mammals, recent research by the International Whaling Commission has revealed that the orcas are actually just playing a little game.

In the report, the researchers explained: “The behavior shares more similarities with fads observed elsewhere and appears to be related to play or socializing. It may be favored by recent increases in the abundance and availability of prey – reducing the time needed to forage – and by fewer negative interactions with fisheries.”

The team also found that males from another group of whales occasionally go through phases of “ritual ramming or head-butting,” with the behavior disappearing and reappearing, once pausing for 20 years and then starting again.

They’re just stupid little (giant) guys! They’re having fun! And only causing accidental damage!

BHow sailors should avoid encounters with orcas

The researchers strongly advise against trying to scare away orcas. They advise: “Move away from the whales as quickly as possible, at least two to three kilometers from the area where the whales were encountered, either towards the coast (in the Gulf of Cadiz and the Strait of Gibraltar) or towards an area where a rescue can be accelerated.”

They said that while walking away might not end the interaction, it might reduce the risk of harm.

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