A pod of orcas known for attacking boats in southwestern Europe has sunk a large yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar after puncturing its hull.
On May 12, several orcas (Orcinus orca) attacked the 15-meter yacht named Alboran Cognac in the Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow body of water located between southern Spain and North Africa, separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea. During the attack, which began around 9 AM local time, the orcas repeatedly rammed into the hull and rudder of the vessel, as reported by Live Science on May 15.
Orcas learn to target boat rudders. (Photo: Dan Kriz).
The two-person crew on the yacht had to send out a distress signal and were rescued by a passing oil tanker. However, the vessel sustained significant damage during the attack, and water began to flood in, causing it to sink gradually. This marks the fifth time orcas have sunk a boat in the past three years. The attack is likely attributed to individuals from the Iberian orca population, a pod of about 40 orcas living off the coasts of Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Gibraltar, which has been targeting boats in their habitat since 2020.
Most attacks occur between May and August each year, around the Strait of Gibraltar. However, earlier this year, some orcas were spotted circling a boat north of Spain, indicating that they have expanded their range and begun attacking earlier than usual. As a result, Spanish authorities have had to warn recreational boaters to avoid venturing too far offshore and not to stop when orcas are nearby.
Since the attacks began in 2020, sailors have reported approximately 700 interactions with orcas in the area, ranging from swimming around boats, ramming them, to striking fiercely, puncturing, and sinking vessels. The most recent sinking incident occurred on Halloween last year when a pod of orcas sank a sailboat in the Strait of Gibraltar after nearly an hour of attacks. Prior to that, at least three other boats sank in the area from 2022 to early 2023. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported.
During the attacks, the most common tactic employed by orcas is to disable or detach the rudder, rendering the vessel uncontrollable. Researchers believe that this behavior is learned through social interactions. To date, at least 15 individuals have been involved in attacks in the area. However, researchers suggest that the aggressive behavior may have originated from a pregnant female orca named White Gladis, who was disturbed by boats. The exact motivations behind the attacks remain unclear.
