Why Are Orcas Attacking Boats? A Marine Biologist Explains

#orca #orcas #kpassionate
Why are orcas sinking ships in the Strait of Gibraltar? Is it revenge? A marine biologist explains.

00:00 - Orcas Attack Yacht
01:13 - Iberian Orca Ecotype
02:13 - An Orca Named White Gladis
03:30 - Do Orcas Get Revenge?
04:31 - Why Are Orcas Sinking Ships?
06:25 - Orcas and Humans
07:30 - KPassionate

UPDATE: The KPassionate community raised over $26,000 to help build a new marine life rescue center. While the live event is over, it isn't too late to help! You can donate directly to the Oregon Coast Aquarium here: https://streamlabscharity.com/oregon-...

For the most reliable information about the Iberian orca and their interactions in the Strait of Gibraltar, check out Orca Iberica → https://www.orcaiberica.org/

Learn more about orca ecotypes →    • A New Species of Orca is Changing Mar...  
Why are orcas called killer whales →    • Why Are Orcas Called Killer Whales Wh...  
Orcas are eating shark livers →    • Orca Caught on Film Absolutely Destro...  

According to reports, the Gladis orcas began attacking yachts in the Strait of Gibraltar in 2020. Since then, 4 boats have been sunk and more than 250 damaged by a group of orcas, with the Iberian orcas appearing to deliberately target the vessels’ rudders. The Iberian orcas are not known to eat marine mammals. These killer whales mainly feed on Atlantic bluefin tuna. Which is a fish that is highly-prized by humans. This creates a complex interaction between humans and killer whales. One that is often dangerous to the orcas, who are known to ‘steal’ tuna from fishing lines, which can lead to injuries from the hooks themselves or from ship strikes.

A theory floating around is that one of the orcas, White Gladis, was injured by a boat, is out for revenge, and is teaching the other orcas to attack the boats. First of all, Gladis is not her name. Her name is White or Blanca. Gladis is actually just a Spanish name for gladiator or gladiator-like. All the orca that have attacked ships have been deemed Gladis. Not all Iberian orca are Gladis, but all Gladis are Iberian orcas. There are currently fifteen killer whales identified as Gladis and one thing I think is interesting, and probably telling, is that while Gladis Blanca is an adult… the vast majority of the Gladis are actually juveniles.

In my opinion, the most likely explanation for why the Gladis orcas are attacking boats is because it’s fun. These orcas are playing. The vast majority of Iberian orcas attacking boats are juveniles. The adult orcas are not participating. So it could be just rambunctious play initiated by young orcas who are passing it on and being “bad influences” to their siblings.

That doesn’t make it any less dangerous for the boaters or the killer whales. If I was on a boat in Spain, I would avoid these orcas at all costs. In my opinion it is likely these attacks will continue and end in the deaths of people and animals.

Original videos of Iberian orcas sinking yachts:
[1] https://www.tiktok.com/@aprilboyes/vi...
[2]    • Orca attack 23/10/2021  

Sources:
[1] https://www.livescience.com/animals/o...
[2] https://gizmodo.com/do-animals-practi...
[3] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...
[4] https://sg.news.yahoo.com/yacht-sinks...
[5] https://www.newsweek.com/2019/09/27/w...
[6] https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...
[7] https://www.apa.org/news/press/releas...

Aerial Footage: Resident killer whale J50
NOAA Fisheries, filmed under NMFS research permit #18786
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