In Moroccan waters near the Strait of Gibraltar, an undisclosed number of orcas recently caused a sailing yacht to sink, marking a new incident in a trend over the past four years.
The 15-meter (49-foot) yacht, Alboran Cognac, carrying two individuals, was attacked by these highly social apex predators, commonly known as killer whales, around 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Sunday, as reported by Spain's maritime rescue service.
The passengers aboard the yacht reported sudden strikes to the hull and rudder, leading to water entering the vessel.
They promptly alerted the rescue services, and a nearby oil tanker rescued them and transported them to Gibraltar. Unfortunately, the yacht was left adrift and eventually sank.
This incident adds to a series of similar orca rammings in the Gibraltar Strait, which separates Europe from Africa, as well as off the Atlantic coast of Portugal and northwestern Spain.
Experts attribute these incidents to a subpopulation of about 15 individuals referred to as "Gladis." Since the first reports of orca attacks on ships in May 2020, the research group GTOA, which monitors populations of the Iberian orca sub-species, has recorded nearly 700 interactions.
The motive behind this behavior remains unclear, with leading theories suggesting it could be a playful display of curiosity by the mammals, a social trend, or intentional targeting of perceived competitors for their preferred prey, the local bluefin tuna.
Despite their name, killer whales are actually endangered members of the dolphin family. As adults, they can reach lengths of up to eight meters and weigh up to six tonnes.