So long, and thanks for all the fish…
What is going on?
Humans have a long-standing fascination with orcas, that transpires through research, mythologies, and pop culture. You might remember Save Willy, the legendary movie about a boy befriending a killer whale and freeing it from the evil aquarium. Found in oceans all around the world, the beautiful creatures with distinctive black and white looks are now making headlines for attacking sailboats along the Iberian coast in Europe.
Since 2020, scientists observed over 500 recorded interactions between orcas and boats by the Iberian coastline and these attacks on sails do not seem to be stopping, quite the opposite. At the beginning of May 2023, a Swiss yacht named Champagne was sunk by three orcas. The skipper described the attack as being coordinated amongst one adult and two younger orcas as “the little ones shook the rudder at the back while the big one repeatedly backed up and rammed the ship with full force from the side.” There have been four sunken ships to date and about 20 percent of these attacks caused sufficient damage to disable the vessel. In all orcas incidents, people onboard the ships have been rescued.
Even though orcas are part of the dolphin family, we often refer to them as killer whales. The name Orcinus translates to “of the kingdom of the dead” so are orcas finally living up to their name and reputation beyond the sea realm?
Why is this happening?
The sudden change in Iberian orcas’ behaviour and aggression toward boats is unusual as humans are not part of orcas’ diet. The Atlantic Orca Working Group (AOWG) stated that this “ is a rare behaviour that has only been detected in this part of the world”. Scientists believe that the reason behind these attacks is a traumatized female orca called White Gladis. This orca is believed to have experienced a “critical moment of agony,” such as colliding with a boat or being trapped as a bycatch during illegal fishing. As a result of this traumatizing encounter, White Gladis is now attacking sailboats as a defensive behaviour. Do you remember the documentary Seaspiracy or our article on fishing? The increasing demand for fish in people’s diets can result in extensive and even illegal fishing practices harming the sea population. As such, it is possible that White Gladis ended up as a bycatch in some large industrial fishing net, which must be a traumatizing experience for the animal.
Orcas are highly social animals, and it is believed that other orcas near the Iberian Peninsula are copying White Gladis’ behaviour. According to Biological Conservation Journal, orcas have “sophisticated learning abilities” including imitation. The attacks on sailboats follow a repeating pattern, as orcas approach from the stern to strike the rudder. However, some also argue that this is just a fad as orcas are curious animals and see this as a playful encounter rather than an act of aggression. The majority of these encounters are harmless, nevertheless, having a killer whale approaching your sailboat is terrifying as described by the witnesses. There is a Facebook group Orca Attack Report, monitoring orcas' locations for safe sailing.
There have been 20 incidents in May 2023 alone. The increased number of killer whale attacks is concerning for everyone from skippers, and marine conservationists to orcas themselves. The population of the Iberian orca is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List, with only 39 orcas recorded in 2011. Scientists stated that “if this situation continues or intensifies, it could become a real concern for the mariners’ safety and a conservation issue.”
Final thoughts
Are these coordinated orca attacks just a manifestation of nature fighting back? While some articles refer to White Gladis as the “culprit” behind these attacks, it seems to us that this orca is the victim here. We ought to rethink our activities.
In some indigenous communities alongside the USA West Coast, orcas are perceived to be the protector of the ocean and it seems that this is precisely what the orcas of the Iberian coast are doing — protecting the sea.
