Killer whales attack boats, terrifying outcome.

Killer Whales Attack Boats off the Coast of Spain and Portugal

Overview

Killer whales, also known as orcas, have attacked boats off the Iberian coast since 2020. The whales have sunk three boats and attacked many more. The orcas have learned how to stop a boat after beginning an attack. The incidents usually involved the creatures striking a ship’s rudder after approaching from the stern. The whales tended to lose interest after successfully stopping a boat’s movement.

Theories

University of Aveiro biologist Alfredo López Fernandez believes that one killer whale that suffered a “critical moment of agony” with a boat learned to become aggressive toward them and taught this behavior to other animals. The expert believes a sole orca began attacking boats spurred by its own agonizing interaction with one of the crafts. The boat-ramming tactics spread through observation.

Expert Caution

Whale experts caution against entering the water in the event of an orca attack. In spite of this, a fatal orca attack on a human has never been recorded.

Conclusion

Orcas are among the most intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom. The creatures have the second-largest brains among marine mammals.

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