A couple of month in the past, sailors off the Portuguese coast had a stunning encounter — a pod of Iberian orcas surrounded and repeatedly ran into two sailboats close to Lisbon. One vessel misplaced its rudder and needed to be towed to shore, whereas the opposite sustained severe injury earlier than finally sinking. Fortunately, all crew members had been rescued safely.
These incidents are a part of an ongoing sample. Since 2020, scientists have recorded a whole lot of interactions between orcas and boats within the waters between Portugal and Spain. Many of the encounters contain orcas approaching and nudging sailboats, usually specializing in the rudder.
Specialists nonetheless aren’t positive why that is taking place. Some consider the whales are merely curious or enjoying, whereas others suppose a number of younger orcas could have realized this habits and handed it alongside to others of their pod.
Whereas orca assaults sound alarming, researchers emphasize that these animals aren’t aggressive towards people — they’re clever and social creatures, probably experimenting or expressing curiosity.
Sailors within the area are being suggested to remain alert, decelerate if orcas seem, and keep away from sudden maneuvers. The Portuguese maritime authorities proceed to observe the scenario intently as they work with marine biologists to grasp the phenomenon higher.
